approach to crime and punishment, Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley claimed yesterday.

And he called for an end to discussion papers and a full-scale crackdown on crime and drugs.

But Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox said that the recently-released Core Functions Review -- the first in a series of reports into Bermuda's thin blue line -- established for the first time a "logical redeployment model'' and pegged Police numbers "on more than guesswork.'' And Ms Cox said planning was already underway to groom Bermudian candidates for the Commissioner's job when current chief Jean-Jacques Lemay's contract ends next year.

The two clashed during the Budget debate on the massive Home Affairs and Public Safety Ministry in the House of Assembly yesterday.

Ms Cox said that a total figure of 420 officers -- down from an establishment high of 480-plus some years ago -- had been plumped for.

She added: "This is a figure that, with continued recruitment initiatives, can be kept up from local recruiting.'' And she said keeping undesirables out of Bermuda would be made easier with a reestablished travel control unit -- with a combined service approach involving Police, Customs and Immigration, both Bermuda and US.

She added: "The result will be a more efficient and effective team working together to achieve common goals.'' And she said regular "directional statements'' would be drawn up, using input from Government, Police and other groups like the National Drug Commission and community organisations.

But Mr. Dunkley said: "I'm quite discontented to look at nearly every single Budget head and hear the Minister say, `review, review, review.'' And he said his own party while in Goverment had been criticised for having too many reviews.

Mr. Dunkley claimed that voters were "fairly despondent'' over Government's approach to crime, drugs and public safety.

He added: "Although people sometimes seem impatient, the electorate who have a say in the way the country is run want action -- the people want once again to feel safe on their shores.'' And he said that people wanted more than "lip service'' paid to the war on drugs -- which had been identified as a priority in the Core Functions Review.

Mr. Dunkley added: "We don't need any more reviews, studies or talk. We need a Government which is committed to dealing with this scourge.'' And he questioned why the CID branch budget had gone up 12 percent, while the drugs squad had got only $71,000 in extra cash -- a four percent increase.

Mr. Dunkley said Bermuda was a small, isolated Island -- and a major effort could make a "huge dent'' in drugs imports.

Ms Cox, however, later pointed out that the Task Force and a dog handler had been transferred to narcotics, although they were paid out of another budget.

Mr. Dunkley told MPs that the latest crime statistics he had seen painted "a very bleak picture'', with a big increase in major crime.

He said: "What is really alarming is that wounding crimes have more than doubled.'' Mr. Dunkley added that the average station watch was down nine officers to just three in some cases.

He said: "The only crime we really see down is assaults on Police and I've got to wonder if that's because we have less Police on the streets.'' Mr. Dunkley said the PLP in Opposition had produced a review of crime in Bermuda -- but had failed to come up with a promised motion on the subject.

But he added: "The homework was done when they were in Opposition and now they're in Government and we're still waiting for an action plan.

And he slammed a call from Government Senator Calvin Smith to take another look at the decriminalisation of cannabis -- partly on the grounds of the disproportionate effect convictions had on the lives of young black people -- and described it as "a mixed message.'' Mr. Dunkley said: "Government is trying to send a message that they want to deal with drugs in our society and at the same time, they're sending out another message.'' Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety 2000/01 estimates Ministry responsibility:To oversee the operations of Home Affairs and Public Safety -- includes responsibility for Police, Prisons, the Fire Service, the Bermuda Regiment and labour relations.

Budget estimate: $68,011,000 (last year $64,998,000) Revenue: $16,951,000 Budget allocations Defence $3,951,000 Police $37,550,000 Prisons and Snr. Training Schools $14,415,000 Immigration $3,295,000 Registry General $1,364,000 Ministry HQ $324,000 Fire Services $6,148,000 Security Services $173,000 Labour $491,000 Parliamentary Registrar $300,000 Michael Dunkley Paula Cox