Shadow Home Affairs minister Michael Dunkley has accused the government of fiddling while Rome burns after they waited 14 months to boost police manpower. The blast comes after Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox announced that Government was prepared to look overseas for foreign officers to swelll depleted Police ranks. Last Thursday Ms Cox announced that 45 foreign officers would be brought in as cover while the force underwent a revamp which will release more officers to fight crime. But Mr. Dunkley said hard questions needed to be asked about how many extra police would hit the beat and he accused Government of procrastinating while crime figures soared.

He said: "Ms Cox seemed very defensive about the time she's taken to make this decision saying those calling for foreign cops were hysterical - but it has taken an inordinate amount of time. Crime has gone up 21 percent in the last quarter. "I have full confidence in the ability of the Police to assess what they need. I'm surprised it's taken 14-15 months to come to this decision. "I hope they bring in these Policeman quickly - we don't want to wait another six or seven months for them.'' And he added that it was difficult to assess whether numbers would be boosted under the redeployment plan as Ms Cox had also said the overall staff ceiling would eventually come down. Mr. Dunkley said: "They are moving from 444 officers to 436 and then 420. It's smoke and mirrors. "It's difficult to say if we are gaining with these extra Police as you don't know what the finish line is. "I want to know what the figures are for the numbers of cops being released from these other duties. Every year we lose 36 policemen through natural attrition - if it take another six months to get these foreign Policemen we will have lost another 18.'' Under the plan Police would be released from guard duties, prosecution roles and from drug interdiction work. Mr. Dunkley said: "They are robbing Peter to pay Paul. They are just allocating to other services. "They are leaving interdiction to customs but they might say they need another ten or 20 officers to do this. "The regiment might take over guard duties but they might say they need specialised training and more personnel. Who is going to take up the Police's marine functions? We don't have the capacity outside the Police.'' And Mr. Dunkley said he was disturbed by Ms Cox's pledge to fast track Bermudian recruits. He said: "While I support Bermudianisation and Bermudians going up the career ladder I don't like the term fast tracking - it does a disservice to the person concerned as well as the force to move anyone forward before they are qualified.'' PHOTO Michael Dunkley