Police Commissioner George Jackson has apologised to the victim of a violent beating who was asked to pick out his assailants from a line-up in which all those taking part could see him.

Mr. Jackson admitted last night that the method used in the identification parade following the savage attack on bar owner Victor Rudolph Alleyne was ?regrettable?.

Mr. Alleyne criticised what he called the ?third world? investigation into the assault, telling how he was taken into a room at Police headquarters to face 13 people in a line-up. There was no one-way glass ? meaning all those involved could see him.

Mr. Jackson did not explain why a one-way mirror was not used but said in a statement that Police were in the process of equipping a purpose-built identification suite in which victims and suspects would be kept apart.

?In the interim we have put in place a system where victims who attend identification parades can view the suspects through a one-way mirror,? he said.

?The officers who carried out identification parades in the past without the use of the mirror have been strongly advised that the procedures in place for identification parades must be used at all times. ?The method used in the identification parade after the assault on Mr. Victor (Rudy) Alleyne is regrettable. I recognise that witnesses must be protected and their identity kept confidential.?

Barbados-born Mr. Alleyne, 54, had his eye socket smashed and his nose broken when four drinkers at his Spring Garden restaurant went for him.

He underwent plastic surgery and now has a metal plate under his left eye, a three-inch scar which may be permanent and double vision.

Mr. Jackson said: ?I fully understand the effect of facing a possible offender face to face; this in itself adds to the trauma of the victim?s previous experiences with the suspect.

?We remain cognisant of the trauma of facing a possible offender and extend our sincerest apologies to Mr. Alleyne and any other person where the identification process was carried out and procedure was not followed.?

He added that it was Bermuda Police Service?s endeavour to ?be fully compliant with current and future legislation introduced in our jurisdiction?.