The Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service is to be boosted to full strength with the addition of 18 firefighters after a successful recruitment drive.

Housing and Public Safety Minister David Burch made the announcement last week during an update on activities within his Ministries.

He also said four middle management officers from the fire and rescue service have also started the first uniformed services workforce certificate at the Bermuda College.

It is designed to provide managers with the skills they need to face the challenges of today's workforce.

Completion of this course will position officers to assume greater responsibility with the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, according to Sen. Burch.

Five hundred families are set to receive free installations of smoke detectors as part of the organisation's 'Year of the Family' initiative. Families will be able to receive the service on a first come, first served basis.

It will proceed with an advertising campaign to inform the general public on how to better protect their homes against fire and will be launched shortly.

The Department of Corrections will also receive a staffing boost to bring it up to strength. A recruiting drive in July drew 42 applicants from whom 18 to 20 new officers will be taken.

However, Sen. Burch said the Bermuda Police Service continues to struggle with recruitment and retention of new officers.

As reported in Thursday's Royal Gazette, the service is some 30 officers below its established threshold of 464.

The most recent local recruitment course is in its final stages and 14 recruits are expected to graduate in a ceremony at Police headquarters tomorrow.

Discussions are ongoing with some officers who have served at least 25 years in the service and wish to continue without seeing their pension plans adversely affected. Part of the decline in staffing is blamed on lucrative second careers within the private sector — something Sen. Burch said the service could not compete with.

Overseas recruitment of Police officers has also taken a hit as those in traditional recruiting locations no longer find it attractive to serve in Bermuda as they once did.

To alleviate the problem, the Commissioner of Police has sought the approval of Government to recruit untrained overseas personnel.

The proposed Magistrates' Court/Hamilton Police Station building has just undergone a final design review as well as architectural drawings, Sen. Burch added. It is understood that a recommendation to Cabinet is due shortly.

And, after a few weeks of being suspended, the Hustle Truck programme, which sees unemployed people put to manual labour, resumed since September 10.

Sen. Burch said the scheme has been revamped with the elimination of "undesirable characters" plus the inclusion of counselling and other intervention activities.

"The work programme moves forward," Sen. Burch added, "with smaller, more manageable teams. Going forward, the hustle truck will have a full-time highly skilled coordinator.

"A comprehensive programme and structure has been implemented that will assist workers in gaining full time employment, which is now an integral part of the programme."