Police are to boost spending on fingerprinting and collection of DNA samples to help solve crime.

In a copy of the Budget speech covering Police obtained by the The Royal Gazette Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Terry Lister said spending on Police will go up by six percent to a total of $42.8 million.

Much of it has been spent on wages which have increased 14 percent due to cost of living increases and the need to pay on-call allowances to garage mechanics in line with Government's agreement with the Bermuda Industrial Union.

Mr. Lister confirmed the Service was looking to hire officers from the UK and Caribbean on five-year contracts.

And he said Police had bought an automated fingerprinting recognition system which would help identify unclear fingerprints which manual searches missed.

He said: "The computerised system automatically searches a mark of poorer quality against prints stored in the system with similar characteristics.

"The computerised system is more efficient and less time consuming than the manual search."

Police are spending more on collection and analysis of DNA, said Mr. Lister.

He said: "The use of DNA in crime investigation has over the years drastically increased.

"DNA has proven to be a reliable scientific advancement in identifying suspects. We will increase the collection and analysis of DNA to identify suspects. This will improve the quality of our investigations."

Police are also spending $18,000 to research the need for a purpose-built public order and firearms training facility while $250,000 is being spent on repairs to the existing firearms range.

A tape transcriber will be hired to give accurate transcripts of interviews with suspects.

Increased policing at the US Consulate had led to a $70,000 increase in overtime while $20,000 was being provided for internal security and disaster exercises.

Plans for a new Hamilton Police station have been put back until 2004/2005, however money set aside for a new station in Southside has been increased from one million to $2.25 million.

The expansion of CCTV into North Hamilton and Court Street will cost the Police $200,000 over the next two years.

Mr. Lister said: "This is a high crime drug infested area. CCTV coverage will vastly improve the image of the area, thereby attracting more business entrepreneurs and improving the quality of life for residents of that area."

The financial investigation unit of the commercial crime department has been strengthened by one sergeant, two constables and one civilian at a cost of $214,000.

He said the extra staff were needed to handle increased workload arising out of the Proceeds of Crime Act which allows criminal's assets to be seized.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said the need was for more front-line policemen rather than officers to tackle white collar crime.

Referring to the brutal mugging at Southampton Post office of 77-year-old Josie Ray he said: "It's OK to ensure that Bermuda remains a world-class financial centre, free from money laundering but Mrs. Ray couldn't care one iota if somebody stole or laundered money if the manpower in the Police Service is going to investigate them, rather than ensure her safety."

She called for more patrols to make seniors and women feel safer in their homes.