Police are to step up efforts to recruit overseas officers after projections showed up to 105 officers would be leaving between now and August 2004.

Government said efforts to attract just locals would not be enough to maintain the force's roster of 436 officers as officers retire, resign or get sacked.

Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Terry Lister said: "It's clear to us that on examination of the recruiting figures for the past seven years, local recruiting continues to fall short of the numbers actually required to sustain the effective operations of the Police service."

He said Police would continue with the cadet programme to attract Bermudians but there was plenty of competition for labour.

"Law enforcement, the maintenance of public order and public safety are all important to Government and after fully considering the projected resources for the Service we agree that it was essential for overseas recruiting to continue for the immediate future," said Mr. Lister.

"Accordingly Cabinet has granted permission for the Commissioner to recruit trained officers from overseas."

He said Cabinet was keen to keep recruiting locals and that Commissioner Jonathan Smith had set up a recruitment committee to examine ways to entice Bermudians.

Mr. Lister said: "In addition, a local recruiting course for approximately ten new officers is being planned for later this year. "Our Bermudian workforce has a considerable array of choices when it comes to jobs. We are pleased the cadet programme, that was reintroduce by this Government, continues to make steady progress and we look forward to the day when a steady stream of constables are appointed from the Cadet ranks."

He said for now Government believed a mix of local and overseas recruiting was necessary.