The Police Association is taking the Government to arbitration to fight for a pay rise.

After more than two years of stalled negotiations the matter is to be settled in arbitration proceedings. A Bermuda Police Service spokesman confirmed last night: "The process is at arbitration."

Last night Public Safety Minister Senator David Burch did not wish to comment. A Government spokeswoman said: "There is no comment from the Minister."

It is understood the Bermuda Police Association (BPA) initiated the proceedings after rejecting a Government pay offer of four percent and 4.5 percent this summer. Members had asked for seven percent. As the dispute has dragged on, Police contracts for the previous two years have now expired, since October 1. This has left the BPA unable to discuss members' new contracts, as they are still embroiled in a pay rise for the previous.

Det. Con. Carl Neblett, chairman of the BPA, said last night: "It has left us in limbo somewhat. I am a little surprised but at the same time this is something that has happened in the past, and with every process like this we go to the next level and try to iron it out as best we can.

"Once an arbitration is over and done with, it will be legally binding. However, I didn't think Government would react in this way, considering that the Police are called on again and again for almost every aspect of everything that goes on in the country, and the dangers we face on a daily basis.

"You would think you would take care of the people who take care of you."

Det. Con. Neblett said the last time Police officers received a pay rise over the cost of living was in 2004. "We do feel undervalued," he said.

"The Government's offer at the table was very low. It's not good enough by today's standards, and not by the increase in living expenses in Bermuda.

"As for the new contract - we haven't even begun to touch on that yet. We don't know what's going to be offered, if anything at all, as the Association has not yet sat down to address those issues - because we're still dealing with this last contract."

Det Con Neblett said the pay dispute was not helping to ease the Police recruitment crisis.

"We can't compete with the private sector. Regarding our retention levels, we have a high turnover. Whether it is to do with the salary or not, I can't discuss.

"However, I'm very sure that if the salary was made more attractive to our Bermudian colleagues, we wouldn't have the shortfall we have with the recruitment process in Bermuda."

While Government controls the budget and recruitment policy of the Bermuda Police Service, under the Constitution of Bermuda the Governor has overall 'operational responsibility'. Deputy Governor Mark Capes, currently acting Governor, was unavailable for comment yesterday.