The second-in-command at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) quit yesterday after just two days in his post ? the second departure in 48 hours.

Head of the civil service Kenneth Dill said yesterday he would be meeting under-fire DPP Vinette Graham-Allen to discuss the resignation of Principal Crown Counsel Nicholas Harrison.

An experienced prosecutor from Australia, Mr. Harrison was introduced to Puisne Justice Carlisle Greaves at Supreme Court on Monday by Senior Crown Counsel Paula Tyndale.

She said he had not yet been called to the Bar, but hoped to begin prosecuting cases later this month.

understands he was actually scheduled to begin a drugs trial at Supreme Court on Monday before news of his shock departure.

Confirming news of the resignation via a Government spokesperson yesterday, Major Dill said he would be discussing the impact of the job vacancy when he meets with Mrs. Graham-Allen.

This marks the second time in little over a year that an Australian appointee has left after just two days in post at the office of the DPP.

Roger Kimbell headed back home after just 48 hours in January 2006 citing ?personal reasons?.

In addition to Mr. Harrison?s resignation this week, lawyer Kae Thomas also left the office of the DPP to join the Human Rights Commission, completing her final day on Tuesday.

The double departure comes weeks after it was revealed three members of staff had approached the independent Government Ombudsman with concerns about the way the department ? responsible for the prosecution of all criminal cases ? is run.

The day before, Senator Wayne Caines ? a Crown Counsel himself until he left for his Government post in October 2006 ? told he had requested the Attorney General look into ?serious concerns? about the DPP and her management team. Several unnamed sources within Government - including staff at the DPP ? have also spoken out about Ms Graham-Allen?s management style describing it as ?autocratic?.

The reason for Mr. Harrison quitting his $143,522 position was unclear yesterday. One source said: ?I have no idea why. It would be pure speculation. But if you look back over the last year this is the ninth or tenth person to have left the department ? a stream of people who have left.?

Among the lawyers who have moved on are Shakira Dill, who went to study in the US, Oonagh Vaucrossen, who took up a non-legal post abroad, Anthony Blackman, who returned to his home country of Barbados, and Kulandra Ratneser, who went to the office of the Attorney General as a consultant.

Mrs. Graham-Allen, who comes from Jamaica, has a three year contract which is due to end this summer. The Government advertised her $162,992-a-year post last month in a bid to find a Bermudian to replace her.

Although Mrs. Graham Allen has come under fire from some quarters, her department was praised by Governor Sir John Vereker last month for halving the average length of time taken from committal date to trial, and virtually eliminating the backlog of cases.

Mrs. Graham-Allen declined to comment yesterday, as did Government House and Sen. Caines. Neither Ms Thomas nor Mr. Harrison could be contacted.