Bermudians may not always view Police in a positive light, but one young recruit is urging people to have an open mind about entering the field.

"It is a very secure job and it could possibly be a gateway to another profession or road you want to travel down in life. You may want to do something else in life, but Policing is a good stepping stone," said 20-year-old Police recruit, Anton Gilbert.

Mr. Gilbert added: "The public should know that we are here in aid of them and not in the pursuit of harming or hurting them. People feel that the Police are not always there in a positive sense, but we are here to help."

The Bermuda Police Service has been under pressure since last month when they lost 40 officers to retirement and resignation, explained Chief Inspector Anthony Mouchette.

Chf. Insp. Mouchette believes it important for locals, such as those who complain there are too many foreign officers or nothing to do, to consider a career in serving the community.

He said: "The country has to be policed, so if there aren't local officers applying that forces us to recruit overseas, so why not do something and try and serve your community?"

Chf. Insp. Mouchette is encouraging Bermudians aged between 19 and 49, who have good academic standing, are physically fit, honest, committed to serving the community and upholding the law to apply for the next Recruit Foundation Course (RFC) at the beginning of 2008.

For recruits, such as Mr. Gilbert, the RFC has been a rewarding experience: "I've learned a lot, it has helped me grow as an individual and get more in touch with the law. I wanted to be a lawyer at some point in my life and it's like a taste of being a lawyer," he said.

Though some people are dissuaded from policing because they believe they will lose friends or have to change as a person, Mr. Gilbert admits he has remained the same. "I've been pretty good at that, not letting the uniform change who I am, but instead still being myself," he said, adding: "It's me wearing the uniform, not the uniform wearing me. I am a human being first and a Police Officer second."

"Up here (at the RFC) we are not taught anything but to be here for the public. They are always teaching us to use the calm approach before anything, people need to know that we are not the bad guys."

The RFC is a 16 week programme teaching recruits about law and police procedures and training them in First Aid, life-saving techniques and officer safety, among other things.

This year there are 14 recruits ranging in age from 19-46, several of whom are female. Vanessa Furbert, 19, is ten weeks into the recruitment programme and admits that RFC has been a positive "lifestyle change" for her.

She said: "You have to make big changes and be responsible for your actions. You basically dedicate your life to public service, to people in the community and basically live by a higher standard. You are not just a regular citizen anymore."

"After being in this course it has opened my eyes to a lot of things and pretty much inspired me to become a better person."

Anyone interested in being recruited by the Bermuda Police Service can pick up a recruitment form at any Police Station or Police Headquarters, or call the Recruitment Offices at 295-0011 ext. 4304 and speak to Recruitment Officer, Fiona Miller.

A maximum of 20 recruits can be accepted into a class, so it is best to get forms in as soon as possible so that the screening process can begin for 2008.