Parole for prisoners should be decided by a board independent of political control, prisons chief Ed Dyer said yesterday.

And he said he would be pushing for a new-style parole board whose decisions did not have to be signed off by the Minister for Home Affairs and Public Safety. Mr. Dyer said: "It would take the onus off one person and give it to a committee. It would kind of move the politicians out of it to some degree.'' At present -- unlike Canada -- Bermuda's parole board requires Ministerial approval before a prisoner is released early.

But Mr. Dyer backed the Canadian and UK model, where boards are the final judges of who goes free. And he said: "That would be something I would be recommending.'' Mr. Dyer was speaking as he and Canadian Commissioner of Correctional Service Ole Ingstrup put their names to a new co-operative deal between the two countries' prison services.

Chief of Offenders Board also wants an independent body Austin Thomas, chairman of the Treatment of Offenders Board, which is responsible for parole, said he welcomed Mr. Dyer's support for an independent body.

And he added Mr. Dyer's views were in line with the board's views of several years.

Mr. Thomas said: "We're looking to the present Government to examine this with a view to bringing Bermuda's penal system into line with Canada's, on which we model ourselves.'' He added: "This has been a long-standing concern -- we simply recommend to the Minister and he or she does whatever they think is appropriate in their view.'' Mr. Thomas explained the 12-strong board, with assistance from top prison officials made their decisions with the best interests of the prisoner involved and the Country.

And he admitted a Minister could be subject to political pressures, which could influence their final verdict.

Mr. Thomas said that, at one time, a previous Minister decreed that those convicted of major drug offences would not be eligible for early release.

He added: "I've had a problem with how one person can set aside a decision made by 15 to 17 people.'' Mr. Thomas said the previous Government had transferred his board from Health and Social Services to Home Affairs and Public Safety, in line with the rule in most "western, democratic countries.'' He added: "All we are saying is let's bring the laws and regulations into line with these same countries.

"The board acts in the interests of the Country and it doesn't matter which Government is in power.

"We draw on the assistance of very able people and come to our conclusions without any political pressure whatsover.

"But a particular Minister may have some feeling about a particular criminal activity.

"Politics is in many cases what politicians' concerns are all about -- our primary concern is to return people to society as better persons.'' Mr. Thomas added: "What we want to see is, when the board makes a decision, that's final -- and I would encourage the Minister to make decisions on this in the light of practices in progressive, democratic countries.'' Minister for Home Affairs and Public Safety Paula Cox did not return calls from The Royal Gazette yesterday.