The Royal Gazette learned yesterday.

Police have become the focus of fury after seizing Scott Stallard's shot of Dari tribesmen in traditional costume, which he took during a trip to Irian Jaya, Indonesia.

The picture was displayed on the walls of the Olympic Club to advertise his slide show at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

However a patron of the Hamilton gym, of which Mr. Stallard is a proprietor, apparently took offence to the picture and called the Corporation of Hamilton, who in turn called the Police.

Police officers visited the Olympic Club and confiscated the picture, said Mr.

Stallard's partner Nick Jones. Mr. Stallard was off the Island yesterday and unable to comment.

Police press officer Evelyn James-Barnett did not return calls to her office yesterday. It is not known if there is any intention to charge Mr. Stallard under the Obscene Publications Act 1973.

Picture becomes focus of fury Mr. Jones said: "The Police came and confiscated a picture Scott was using to advertise a lecture at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

"They said they were confiscating it because someone had complained that the tribesmen's genitals were being shown. It's just a farce.'' Gym-goer and local painter Jonah Jones wrote to The Royal Gazette after noticing the photograph had been removed.

He said: "I can only presume that the offence was taken because the traditional dress of these people involves the wearing of a gourd to cover the penis.

"As a keen member of the local Arts community, I find this type of censorship rather sinister.

"Can we expect the Police to be doing the rounds at the next Art Society show in case anything shocking such as a nude study is seen to be corrupting the walls of City Hall?'' Mr. Stallard recently released his fifth book Bermuda from the Air and is working on his first international book.