criminal justice system, has only received eight written submissions.

But its chairman, British Judge Stephen Tumim, yesterday said he was hopeful that the panel would hear from many more groups and individuals before the extended August 5 deadline.

Meeting with the Press for the second time in less than a week, Judge Tumim said he was "a bit concerned'' about the low number of written submissions which were due to be in no later than today.

While noting that most of the submissions were lengthy and mainly from organisations, he said: "I would have liked more organisations to have written in. If they really care about getting things the way they want it, I think they ought to take a bit of trouble to get something in quickly. I'm quite happy to receive things in note form.'' So far, members of the panel have visited Casemates where they were impressed by the "high class of service'' provided by prison staff, Judge Tumim said.

He will hold off visiting the prison until the panel has gathered "various accounts'' of what people say about it. He said he planned to meet with prisoners, as he does in England, in the absence of prison staff and vice versa to "at least get a straightforward look of what everybody thinks''.

Judge Tumim has met with the Police Commissioner, senior Police officers, the Bermuda Regiment, visited institutions in Hamilton, and has talked with 23 individuals so far.

He said the panel also expects to sit in on court cases in the near future.

But the panel's largest wealth of input is expected to come from those attending a public forum planned for next Thursday night at St. Paul's AME Centennial Hall on Court Street.

The forum, entitled "Justice and The Prisons: Have We Got It Right?'', will be chaired by chairman of the Human Rights Commission Canon James Francis and will include a "diverse'' group of speakers still to be confirmed.

"I'm using it as a listening treatment,'' said Judge Tumim who stressed the necessity to hear from the general public.

"I want to know what people think about the criminal justice system. It is really not very possible in a short time to write a useful report unless I have a considerable feel of how the people of Bermuda see their criminal justice system. So on that basis I hope people will come to that meeting on August 6.

"I hope that by the time we start writing, at least we will have had every opportunity to find out what the people Bermuda think about it.'' Responding to criticisms about the limited time -- a month -- the panel has to complete its review, Judge Tumim said: "In four weeks, at least I think, we can collect the information that is already available and we can collect a lot more information and we can set signposts.

"I see the sort of report we will be giving as a signpost report saying why not go that way, not this way. It can't lay down every detail of the road to be taken, it's showing the way and giving the distance.'' The judge, who has given advice on prisons to many governments of dependent territories in the Caribbean and reviewed the UK prison system, stressed the importance of such a review including outsiders.

"I think there is a strong case of having someone from the outside who is not as close to the problem,'' he said, adding that a country like Bermuda, which heavily depends on tourism, needs to have its law and order "very fully polished and kept'' mainly for economic reasons.