their contracts with the Bermuda Service will not be renewed.

The officers are losing their jobs after nearly five years of service as Police chief Mr. Lennie Edwards struggles to meet Government cutbacks.

News of the job cuts, which was leaked to The Royal Gazette , came as MPs heard of a "disturbing'' increase in violent crime.

Last year saw a 14 percent rise in reported crimes against the person, to a total of 482.

Indecent assault reports also increased, although crime generally was down from 5,300 cases to 4,950.

The 25 officers have about three months left of their initial five-year contracts. Some are believed to have married Bermudian women. Many now fear unemployment in their home countries.

The officer who leaked news of the cuts said he was not affected himself. He declined to give his name.

"There are some pretty upset guys,'' he said. "They were basically given their marching orders.

"It's the first time in everyone's memory that contracts have been ended like this, en masse. In the past, they have always been renewed rubber-stamp style.

"There's such a backlog of Bermudians now waiting to join, I guess it's difficult for the Commissioner to say why he's still got foreign Policemen on the force.'' In the House of Assembly last night Sir John Sharpe, Minister of Delegated Affairs, gave MPs the crime figures for 1992. And he told them an undecided number of Police jobs would have to go.

He congratulated Commissioner Edwards on handling a "built-in'' five percent salary increase and the labour-intensive nature of the force.

But the Police, currently about 460 strong, would have to share in cutbacks.

Mr. Edwards had decided to make reductions in serving officers by attrition and non-renewal of contracts. Cadet intake would also be cut.

The Commissioner was also looking alternatives to job cuts like cutting overtime and the buying of cars and equipment, Sir John said.

"Mr. Edwards admits there will be a slower response to minor incidents.'' Replying to a call from Mr. Stanley Morton (PLP) for a halt in the hiring of foreign Police, Sir John said this had effectively happened.

"The last recruitment was almost two years ago and we don't anticipate there will be any in the foreseeable future, or maybe in the future.'' Mr. Phillip Smith (UBP) was a lone voice when it came to commenting on the effect of job cuts. "I really felt that we were over-policed,'' he said.

After the debate, Sir John said: "The Commissioner said he would be able to continue to cope with serious crime and drugs by certain re-organisations, and maybe he is thinking of some civilianisation.

"I would be a bit surprised if there were any whose contracts were not being removed who were married to Bermudians. I'll check that out.'' Mr. Edwards declined to comment on the lost jobs, saying he wanted to speak to the officers first.

MPs heard there were 283 arrests for impaired driving last year, 80 less than 1991. There were 12,696 traffic offences in total, about 2,000 down.

Police were charging fewer people and giving more warnings and cautions, especially to youngsters, said Sir John. The number of stolen cycles was down.

Drug interceptions were up last year, he said, with big jumps in the amount of cocaine and cannabis seized.

Crimes against property were down 1O percent, from 4,269 to 3,898. There were also fewer housebreakings, embezzlements, boat thefts and handbag snatches.

There were also fewer assaults on officers, said Sir John, "which perhaps reflects on a better approach by the Police themselves''.