Police panel member Toppy Cowen has slammed Government MP Wayne Perinchief for undermining the force.

On Friday Mr. Perinchief, a former Police Assistant Commissioner, said he feared officers were tackling `soft' crime while letting more serious crime go unpunished.

And he said the seizure of a work of art, which showed a naked couple embracing, could lead to further censorship.

But Mr. Cowen, who is Police Eastern Consultative Committee chairman, said: "The undermining negative comments about the Police Service made in the House of Assembly were inappropriate and far too judgmental on the incident of the painting by Mr. Manual Palacio which was seized by Police during Harbour Nights.

"There was a complaint from someone who said the picture was obscene.

"The Police were not aware that it `had been exhibited quite extensively throughout Bermuda and had received accolades'."

"They received a complaint, it could have been about the centrefold of Playboy Magazine being on display on Front Street and for that reason it was removed, determined acceptable and returned to the artist.

"It seems to me that would have been the end of the story."

Mr. Cowen added: "Mr. Perinchief also took great delight in commenting about inexperienced young police personnel who could not deal with young people who were acting inappropriately at Harbour Nights and that higher ranking Police officers needed to be proactive in stamping out gang behaviour.

"Wasn't it Mr. Perinchief who advocated the importance of training young people for our Police Service?

"Does he believe critical political attacks are good for the morale of the Service?

Mr. Cowen said politicians should support efforts by the Police to forge links with the community and he stressed that officers had a very difficult job to do.

Mr. Perinchief could not be reached for comment last night.