Public Safety Minister David Burch will not ask the new Governor to hand over control of the Bermuda Police Service to his ministry — at least for 12 months.

New Governor, Sir Richard Gozney, is scheduled to arrive on the Island next week with his wife, Lady Gozney.

The Minister said it was too early to ask for the Police service to be given the Ministry of Public Safety, but said he might ask in about a year.

Sen. Burch has called the "three strikes you're out" programme from the UBP "draconian" and an example of playing on people's fears.

According to lawyer Mark Pettingill, UBP candidate for Warwick West, the three strikes rule would mean a mandatory prison term extension of perhaps five years upon the third conviction for selling hard drugs and other serious crimes.

While the focus would be on rehabilitating those who may be in jail for their first or second offences, he said, the third time around the hard core offender would be taken out of society for a long time.

Asked if he thought the PLP mandated three or five year sentence for possession of a bladed article was as harsh, Sen. Burch said: "It think it's harsh but it should be. But it doesn't send you to prison after three times."

Sen. Burch also admitted rehabilitation programmes may not be working and explained they are working on expanding new programmes.

"We certainly are committed to rehabilitation programmers and success. I believe 90 per cent of inmates can rehabilitated or even higher."

Asked if a new PLP Government would increase the Police budget, Sen. Burch said he saw no need for an increase.

He explained the service is "fully funded" and the Police have not requested a budget increase. He said the main problem was deployment of officers and having officers in non-traditional roles.

He also said he would like an increase in the Regiment budget.