Four Bermuda Police officers have graduated as Master Underwater Criminal Investigators.

The UCI Master Underwater Criminal Investigator programme is the only course of its kind in the world, giving public safety divers specialist licenses in body recovery, vehicle recovery, evidence recovery, and the operation of a metal detector.

Over the past week, P.c. Chris Taggett (Marine Section and Dive Team Leader), Sgt. Steve Cosham (IT and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team Coordinator), Det. Con. Robin Dyer (Financial Investigation) and Sgt. Steve Gunn (Intelligence) have developed their skills to the extent that they can turn sunken cars upside down and find items as small as a button in zero visibility.

Already qualified as Underwater Criminal Investigators, the team called in UCI Founder Mike Berry to expand their abilities and learn the latest techniques in public safety diving.

It is the first time the Masters qualification has been taught outside of the US, and Mr. Berry commented: "The Bermuda Police Service is really taking its services to another level. It shows how serious the Police are in providing a service to the public."