A lack of interest among Bermudians in joining the Police service is one of the reasons why Police Commissioner George Jackson has visited Barbados to bolster an overseas recruitment drive.

In an interview with the Barbados newspaper the Sunday Sun, Mr Jackson is reported to have said that joining the Police force was not the number one job choice among Bermudians and was partially the reason why the Island is seeking to recruit 40 extra officers from Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad and the UK.

And Mr. Jackson has allayed concern that the recruiting of officers from the Caribbean might deplete Police forces gearing up to oversee the World Cup Cricket in 2007.

He told the Sunday Sun: "The recruitment exercise is in no way designed to deplete the resources of the various forces. The successful officers will be given five-year contracts.

"We are targeting constables who display a leadership role to assist our young force; people who have three or four years' experience in general patrol."

In the wake of recent violent crimes in Bermuda with three shooting incidents since April, including the murder of teenager Jason Lightbourne, Government and Governor Sir John Vereker issued a statement last month stating the intention to bring the Bermuda Police Service up to its full complement of 469 officers by the end of October.