Government pledged that work would begin on a new Police station in Hamilton this year during the budget debate on policing and defence, and also that soldiers would be paid additional bonuses.

But the Opposition laid into the Progressive Labour Party over its record on public safety — saying that despite $438 million spent since it came to power ten years ago, the latest crime figures are “alarming”.

Shadow Minister for Public Safety Michael Dunkley also suggested the Regiment would be able to attract more volunteers if it “loosened up a little bit” in the way recruits are treated.

Acting on behalf of Minister of Public Safety and Housing David Burch, who sits in the Senate, Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Wayne Perinchief<$> kicked off the debate by talking about the Regiment where efforts were being made to improve recruit retention.

He said the bounty for soldiers had gone up. Those who used to be turned down for payment because they had failed tests are now paid, while those who pass the tests get extra. And there is an extra bonus for people who stay on beyond their mandatory term.

On crime Mr. Perinchief said there had been a noticeable increase in burglaries — up from 1,046 in 2005 to 1,142 last year. Drug addiction was a major reason said Mr. Perinchief who said a hard core group were the main perpetrators.

But he added: “There’s also a group of very young offenders — for no other reason than the thrill they experience — thrill seekers.”

Mr. Perinchief said work will start on the Hamilton Police Station and court building this year although he admitted the main expenditure on the building was four years late as it had originally been scheduled for 2003/04.

Currently $58.5 million has been set aside for the building.

A further $1 million will be put towards converting an old barracks in Southside for more accommodation for Police officers said Mr. Perinchief.

He said there was funding for a total of 469 Police officers but actual strength stood at 451. Two thirds of officers are local while, with civilian jobs added, the Police have funding for 604 posts.

Beginning with the topic of defence, Mr. Dunkley asked what measures where being made to improve the strength of the Regiment from the current 450 to the 600 recommended soldiers. He suggested the Regiment should “loosen up a little bit” in order to achieve this.

“I mean we have heard concerns from those in the Regiment that it’s difficult to even go to the restroom at night and when you eat your meals you are rushed,” said Mr. Dunkley.

He suggested a discussion “to ascertain whether it’s appropriate or not appropriate in today’s lifestyle”, and suggested a relaxation of such treatment — along with more promotion of the way the Regiment helps the Island — would lead to more recruits.

Mr. Dunkley also urged the Government to act to replace ageing Regiment kit such as vehicles and communications equipment.

Turning to the topic of policing, he pointed out that the annual budget had risen from $30 million when the Government came to power in 1998 to $57 million this year.

He said the total spent over the last decade was $438 million, which amounted to around $7,000 for every person on the Island. He questioned whether they had been given good value for money.

He pointed to crime statistics showing that crimes per 1000 people had gone up from 83.3 to 98.3 between 2005 and 2006 and violent crimes per 100 from 4.9 to 6 over the same period, describing these as “alarming”.

And he listed issues of concern as including “road rage,” drugs, and increasing violence, particularly affecting young people.

“Many in the community think the Government and Cabinet have shown no real desire to tackle these ever-growing issues,” he said. “We need to get tough to protect our way of life”.

Mr. Dunkley called for better detection, prosecution and rehabilitation of offenders and cited similar calls from campaign groups such as Bermudians Against Narcotics.

And he criticised Government for ploughing millions of dollars into football, cricket and a Government TV station but not adequate accommodation for the Police.

He raised concern over when the Hamilton Police Station work would be completed, when the closed St. George’s station would be renovated and re-opened, and when additional speed-cameras and CCTV cameras would come on-line.

Patricia Gordon-Pamplin (UBP)<\p>then said a less “sporadic” Police presence was required in the Court Street area.

“I wouldn’t want to walk through at certain times of the evening,” she said.

Shadow Tourism Minister>David Dodwell (UBP)<\p>was next to speak, calling for extra penalties for people who assault visitors to the Island.

Mr. Dodwell pointed to a general trend of increasing violent crime and claimed a “significant” amount was against visitors.

He said safety and security were one of the top reasons people gave for choosing where to go on holiday or to do business.

Wrapping up the debate, Mr. Perinchief said more males were being recruited to the Police in response to the increase in “gang-related behaviour” and violent crime.

He said the experience base of the Police had been eroded because of the retirement of older officers.

“Nevertheless,” he added, “the Police does retain a core of experienced people.”

On tourism related crime, he said the general philosophy was that a crime against a person should be equally dealt with, no matter where they were from.

He concluded: “We were criticised for not spending enough money in some specific areas. I don’t take that as a terrible blemish on this Budget.

“If the Police Commissioner felt that the Budget was adequate, that will allow him to continue to operate the Police service in an effective or efficient way.

“We are only a few people under-strength. If we need to get more people in certain areas, that can certainly be done.”

Mr. Perinchief then moved the debate onto the Department of Correction, which received $26 million in the Budget. Just over half of this cash will go to Westgate.

He praised the efforts of departing prisons boss Bryan Payling and confirmed that former Bermuda Regiment boss Eddie Lamb, who has been shadowing Mr. Payling as Commissioner Designate, would take over on April 2.

He said the introduction of drug testing in prisons had helped reduce the proportion of inmates testing positive.

Prisoners were also typically seen by a nurse within 90 minutes of arriving at jail, he said, compared with the corresponding figure of 72 hours from around three years ago.

Shadow Rehabilitation Minister Susann Roberts-Holshouse$>complained that staff at Westgate had been cut from 139 last year to 132 this year.

“This puts undue stress and strain in a volatile environment,” she said.

She added that more needed to be done to help rehabilitate sexual offenders.

Mr. Perinchief responded that the sexual offenders’ treatment programme was “alive and well”.