understaffed Police force have failed their basic fitness test.

The out-of-breath officers will have to re-take their tests before being allowed on the beat.

Police sources told The Royal Gazette that eight out of the 21 Caribbean recruits could not last the pace and were failed.

The officers from Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Anguilla, arrived at the beginning of last month and were expected to be on the streets by next week.

A Police spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that some of the recent recruits had failed the fitness test, taken in the first week, but claimed this was not unusal.

She said they all passed physical tests in their home countries and insisted they will all make the grade in Bermuda.

The Bermuda Police fitness test involves sit-ups and press-ups and running. It is understood the recruits have to re-sit the test after four or five weeks to see if their fitness is up to scratch.

A Police spokeswoman told The Royal Gazette last night: "Yes, there are some officers recruited from overseas who, on arrival in Bermuda, did not meet the required physical fitness standards of the Bermuda Police Service, which is not in any way unusual, considering that it is commonplace for every jurisdiction to have its own fitness standards.

"It is important to note, however, that each of the overseas recruits were tested and all successfully passed the physical fitness standard for their respective constabularies.

"Each of the 21 overseas recruits that are here and those that will be coming are experienced, active and seasoned officers who have already demonstrated their worth, and who are capable of a literal pursuit of offenders of justice.

"The overseas recruits are still in a five-week training and localisation programme that includes physical training.