Bermuda, and also spent eight years in HM Prisons ("as an officer, of course, not as a prisoner''). With the Bermuda Police, he has worked in Traffic, the Police Cadet School and as a sergeant in Somerset.

"There is a real need for this programme,'' he says. "I ran the Cadet School from 1991-94, dealing with people of 16 to 19 years of age and found that they knew very little, prior to coming into the Police, as to what makes the Police tick -- other than being the people who stop them for speeding, and so on. So I see this as a chance to cross over, to get these young people on our side, instead of against us.'' P.c. Grant Tomkins was a Police officer in the UK for six years before arriving in Bermuda and has since worked extensively for Outward Bound, as well as in Central Uniform and Central Parishes. "I was involved in similar projects with the UK Police. I was able to see how successful it has been there, so I was very keen to see a scheme in place here.'' P.c. Amanda Blakeney , the only female on the team, joined the Police Service from the Cadet School and was in Central Division before deciding to take on the challenge of teaching. "I am a Girl Guide leader and have worked with numerous youth groups so this was really a natural for me. I really felt a need to work with young people and this is a way of giving back to the community what has been given to me.'' P.c. Edward Lightbourne also joined the Service from the Cadet School in 1979, leaving five years later to further his education. Since his return in 1991, he has worked in Marine, Traffic, the Training School, as a Summons Officer and in Community Relations. "I, too, have been the recipient of many community efforts such as Outward Bound and when I was young, back in the '60s, I clearly remember how we all got involved in watching the Police Bicycle Displays and Gymkhanas.'' P.c. Nigel Richardson , who has worked with Eastern Uniform Division and with the Crime Prevention Unit, has also been involved with church youth groups and the Police Cadet Scheme.

"I know, from those experiences, that this is a great oppportunity for young people to form a bond with Police officers. This will be a very good thing for the entire community.''