given the Service a vote of confidence.

The Royal Gazette understands that a follow-up report to the 1994 probe into the force by Her Majesty's Inspector of Dependent Territories Police Forces Lionel Grundy -- which is believed to have slammed the Force -- noted huge strides in the development of the since renamed Police Service.

According to sources, a report carried out in January by Mr. Grundy, the first since his 1994 visit, backs changes carried out by English Police Commissioner Colin Coxall, who quit the force at the weekend.

Mr. Grundy is believed to have credited the slashing of the crime rate since 1994 to Mr. Coxall's approach to policing.

He is understood to have said that Mr. Coxall's massive commitment to training, better crime prevention, a higher Police profile and up-to-date operational procedures has produced the slump in crime figures.

And he is believed to have pointed out that the leaps and bounds made in the Force's professionalism alone justified the controversial appointment of outside officers to modernise the Service.

But the report is said to say that producing a Bermudian Commissioner could take up to ten years from identifying suitable candidates to ensuring appropriate career development, including overseas attachments.

And it is understood Mr. Grundy warned against promoting a Bermudian beyond their experience for the sake of expediency as unfair to the officer and detrimental to the continued development of the force.

But it is said he blames successive previous Commissioners for allowing a power vacuum to open up beneath them -- one of the reasons for the appointment of imported talent to the Commissioner's and Deputy Commissioner's jobs.

Mr. Grundy, however, is understood to be worried about the number of officers available for street duty, which was cut by 57 constables some years ago due to reductions in the budget due to economic constraints.

And he is said to recommend the use of outside experts to carry out a review of force strength to take account of changing circumstances.

But Mr. Grundy is said to have been pleased by Mr. Coxall's commitment to civilianising jobs, which has led to 20 officers being released from backroom jobs, with more to follow.

He is also said to have commended attempts to open up the Force through better consultation with the public, including Mr. Coxall's plan to set up joint Police and public advisory groups in all three divisions, with a national body to coordinate the views of the public.