month.

Although the latest $1.25 million weapon in the war on crime has been in place for several months, the cameras have been switched off while a code of practice controlling their use was drafted.

The Royal Gazette has learned that legislation has now been written up by the Attorney General's Chambers and should go before the Cabinet for final approval by next week.

And that means once the legal paperwork has been completed the cameras should start rolling straight away.

Last night Public Safety Minister Paula Cox confirmed that the final draft of the code of practice -- designed to protect the public's right to privacy, is currently being reviewed by lawyers and would be discussed by the Cabinet "in the next couple of weeks'', although she was unable to be more specific.

And another source said the legislation is expected to be approved by next week.

The hi-tech system, which links 30 closed circuit television cameras to a central control room at Police Headquarters using fibreoptic cable, was first considered as a means of reducing crime within the city more than two years ago. Police hope the system will slash crime in the city by up to 50 percent.

Cameras set to roll Yesterday representatives from the Bermuda Police Service, the Corporation of Hamilton and the consultancy group that supplied the cameras, met to sign a technical acceptance agreement, confirming that the 30 cameras installed throughout the city were all in working order and ready to roll.

A Police spokesman confirmed the system was being routinely tested and that the Service was now just waiting for the green light from Cabinet.

The spokesman added that the cameras will be monitored by volunteer Police Reserve constables.

The news was welcomed by Shadow Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley who earlier this year criticised Government for not getting the legal framework for the system in place sooner.

But he also expressed concerns that the Police would not have enough manpower to monitor the system and said he hoped the Opposition would have an opportunity to examine the code of practice before it was approved.

"Our party's position on this hasn't changed. We are in full support of it.

We want to see it implemented and are glad that it appears to be just around the corner,'' he said.

"We haven't had an opportunity to look into the code and we would like to have that to make sure it doesn't impact on people's rights.

"The manpower situation is also a concern. If they are going to get reserve officers to do the scanning, they are still going to have to be overseen by officers of rank. We want to make sure that we don't have this system in place at massive cost that then can't be used because of a lack of manpower.'' But last night Ms Cox dismissed Mr. Dunkley's concerns.

"Police are already monitoring the cameras, it won't be a problem staffing them,'' she said. "I have been very impressed with what I have seen.'' ATTORNEY GENERAL AG