The man in charge of the Bermuda Police `report cards' yesterday denied claims he was set to recommend a Foreign Office inquiry into the departure of ex-Police Commissioner Colin Coxall.

Her Majesty's Inspector of Dependent Territories Police Forces Lionel Grundy said: "I don't know where they got that from.

"I have not been asked to submit a report of that nature.'' Mr. Grundy was speaking after press reports suggested Mr. Grundy was "distressed'' about the circumstances surrounding Mr. Coxall's decision to quit his post five months before his three-year contract came up for renewal.

And the reports said that he "may recommend that Foreign Secretary Robin Cook launch a probe into the matter.'' But Mr. Grundy said: `I have seen the headlines....I read them with interest.'' He added, however: "I have not made any report or have plans to submit any report to the Foreign Secretary on this issue.'' Mr. Coxall slashed the crime rate during his two years-plus in charge of the Island force.

But controversy followed his resignation last October, which came hard on the heels of the drugs-busting Operation Cleansweep -- which caught Government Minister Irving Pearman in its net.

Mr. Pearman came to Police attention after two men arrested in the undercover operation were found to have cheques made out by Mr. Pearman.

Environment Minister Mr. Pearman -- who was never charged with an offence -- insisted the money was in payment for work around his Warwick home and denied any wrongdoing.

In early August, Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness had said Mr.

Coxall had done "a very good job'' and said the Commissioner could be asked to stay on after his contract expiry date in March this year.

Only weeks later, after a lunch at Hamilton's Monte Carlo with Mr. Coxall, Mr.

Edness told the Premier and Governor Thorold Masefield that Mr. Coxall must go or he would resign from Cabinet.

Ten days after that, Mr. Coxall handed in his letter of resignation to Mr.

Masefield. Sources claimed it came after a series of clashes with Government.

Mr. Edness later told the House of Assembly the two had clashed over Mr.

Coxall's failure to draw up a succession plan for a Bermudian to take over the force -- which caused a crisis of confidence.

Both the Deputy Governor and the Governor insisted the root of the resignation was not Operation Cleansweep and pointed to longer-term problems in the relationship between Mr. Coxall and Government.

But last night Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott said -- although Mr. Coxall was a controversial figure -- his career here "still ended on an inappropriate note.'' And he said -- in view of the admitted circumstances surrounding the then-Commissioner's resignation, including Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness' statements that he could not work with Mr. Coxall -- that "a clearing of the air'' was needed.

Mr. Scott added: "The only way to do that would be some sort of inquiry.''