Action is needed quickly to reverse the trend of Police officers leaving the ranks at a faster rate than new officers are being recruited.

Opposition deputy leader Michael Dunkley, who raised the issue over the weekend, also believes there is a need for a rethink Police recruitment and the way duties are assigned to new officers ? particularly those from overseas ? as well as efforts to rebuild the respect and standing of the law enforcement service amongst the population.

He said there was evidence that recruits from Police forces overseas, predominately the Caribbean and the United Kingdom, were finding that working in Bermuda was ?not all it is cracked up to be? and through a combination of finding it difficult to secure affordable housing and being taken away from the specialised areas of policing, many were getting out of the force as soon as their contracts allowed.

The problem is now compounding itself because disillusioned officers returning to their home countries relay their experience to other potential recruits who then decide not to take up the opportunity of employment in Bermuda.

Force manpower levels have been a concern for the past eight or nine years, according to Mr. Dunkley, although there was an easing of the situation for a few years when the Progressive Labour Party Government slackened its previous stance on bringing recruits to the Island from overseas Police forces.

But things are now declining with an average attrition loss of around 35 officers six years ago to something in the ?mid-40s? today, said Mr. Dunkley. ?We are seeing a challenge in getting the right number of people in the service. We are seeing the consequences with a lack of enforcement on the street and the rules of the road not being adhered to,? he said.

The United Bermuda Party frontbencher claimed the Police service was no longer able to fill its recruitment classes.

?There is the housing crisis and, where once a lot of officers were housed in Prospect, that housing has been full for a long time and new recruits and officers from overseas are finding it hard to get housing. Another issue is recruiting from overseas. When these officers get here, and they are mostly from the Caribbean and the UK, they often find the experience they were expecting is not everything that it was cracked up to be,? Mr. Dunkley explained.

?They end up not serving in the part of the service that they were brought out to work in and once their contract is up they get out. When they go back to where they came from they tell others that the job isn?t all its cracked up to be and that puts off others from coming out.?

Mr. Dunkley said some ?heavy lifting? is required to address the manpower situation within the Police service.

?There needs to be more aggressive recruiting here and overseas and we have to ensure that the promises that are made are delivered, such as recruits brought in to serve in a particular area of expertise being allowed to do so,? he explained. In the longer term the Police need to work on their image and standing within the community.

?The service does not have the best reputation in the community and it?s no longer the ?in thing? to be in the Police force. We need to change that perception,? said Mr. Dunkley. ?The Police needs the proper tools and facilities to do the service. As an example the Hamilton Police Station has not yet been renovated despite repeated promises and it is an embarrassment. Policing is suffering in Bermuda. You only have to look around at how people conduct themselves on the roads as an example to see how serious this issue is.?

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman told that Mr. Dunkley?s comments would be looked at and, if it is considered appropriate, the Police service will make a response during the next few days.