Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay has begun looking for new recruits in Canada in case some British officers scheduled to come to the Island cannot make it, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Mr. Lemay has identified 24 British officers to boost the under-staffed force, but some are having difficulties obtaining leave.

The Commissioner has already contacted Canadian police forces to fill the shortfall in case of difficulties in Britain.

He told The Royal Gazette : "I am a little bit disappointed. I was expecting the British officers to come to Bermuda in August but I'm told there's a delay because some officers are still negotiating a three year career break from their home constabularies.

"It could be that they start to arrive in late August or early September, but I was expecting them sooner than has been indicated.

"If we don't get the numbers we are looking for, the Government has authorised us to go to Canada, and I've been in touch with Canada to say we might be coming to them to recruit on a three year contract basis.'' Mr. Lemay said he had contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and some of the large metropolitan forces advising them he may need some officers.

He said the Canadian Police does have a list of officers who have volunteered for overseas assignments so he could recruit them in a matter of weeks if necessary.

Last month, 21 officers arrived from the Caribbean to begin three year contracts on the Island.

Although eight of the 21 officers have failed their Bermuda fitness tests, all will be on the streets within the next few weeks.

Mr. Lemay said all the officers, who passed their fitness tests in their home countries, would be encouraged to get themselves fitter to reach the Bermuda standard.