Little would change with the way Bermuda is policed, should the Island assume sovereignty.

Britain, through the Governor, has overall responsible for internal security and defence of the Island, but in 1974 the Police Act gave operational responsibility of the Police Service to the Police Commissioner.

The Governor followed that up in 1977 by delegating numerous other responsibilities to the Minister responsible for Home Affairs. That left the Minister with a free hand to make decisions on the size of the Police Service, recruitment, training, equipment, finance and community relations.

Despite all the delegation of powers and responsibility, the Police Commissioner is still subject to directions of the Governor and must meet with him, and the Home Affairs Minister, regularly to report on policing matters.

With Independence, though, the Police Commissioner would likely only report to the Minister, and according to one Police source who did not want to be named, the most important legislative issue would be to guarantee the independence of the Police Commissioner.

Police Commissioners in the UK for example fiercely guard their independence from the political process.

While the Home Affairs Ministry sets key objectives for policing, the UK Commissioners themselves decide how to carry out their duties.

As for an Independent Bermuda?s protection against foreign aggression, Deputy Governor Nick Carter points out that a Constitutional conference which normally precedes Independence could arrange to maintain the status quo for a while.

?It would be open for any territory to ask the UK to continue such an arrangement which may have been in place before independence even for a limited time-scale. The Regiment could ask to retain its connection with the Royal Anglia Regiment,? Mr. Carter said.

The Bermuda Regiment is advised by two senior officers from the Royal Anglia Regiment ? a staff officer (major) and a senior Non Commissioned Officer who rotate on an annual basis.

Their job is to provide advice to the Regiment Commanding Officer in terms of professionalism to ensure the Regiment maintains its professional standards.

According to Mr. Carter Bermuda could well arrange to have that type of agreement continue.

?Almost any issue can be placed on the table,? said the Deputy Governor. ?That?s the whole point of the Constitutional conference.?

That includes the possibility of assistance from Britain in the events of rioting or other internal disorder.

The last widespread rioting in Bermuda occurred in 1977 following the hangings of Larry Tacklyn and Buck Burrows for murder.

?The current preparedness and professionalism of these organisations (Police and the Bermuda Regiment) are conditions of which the community should be proud,? said the former UBP Government?s position paper on Internal Security and Defence. ?The Government is aware that this preparedness has been aided by advice and assistance available to Bermuda from the United Kingdom. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has assured Bermuda that, in the event of Independence, this advice and assistance would continue to be available, as it is with many independent Commonwealth countries.

The paper also envisaged a ?Treaty of Friendship? with either the UK, Canada or the United States to protect Bermuda from external aggression.

?In common with many small territories, Bermuda would not be able, standing alone, to defend itself against a determined attack. Bermuda?s geographic location and the fact that the United States of America is the closest neighbour make any invasion by hostile forces highly unlikely.?