yesterday for the safety of officers patrolling concerts after bottles and stones were hurled at Police at last weekend's Reggae Festival.

Mr. Edwards said 10 officers hired by concert promoter Mr. Choy Aming to control the crowd at National Stadium became the target of attacks by gatecrashers, ranging from 12-years-old to adults.

"From what I gather it was like a combat zone,'' he said. "There were 15 holes in the fences and some people were seen with bolt cutters.'' One inspector, he said, narrowly missed being hit by hurled bottles and stones.

Mr. Aming, who told The Royal Gazette he lost nearly $60,000 from the festival after some 1,200 fans used false tickets or scaled fences and walls to get in the Stadium, hired 10 Police officers for the event.

The officers, who are paid by the concert promoters, can make up to $22 an hour working at such events.

But Mr. Edwards said: "They don't think the few dollars that they make is worth it.

"My concern is we're getting away from the professional image as Police.

We're being asked to be guardsmen. If the public are going to continue carrying on the way they are, it would better to get the Regiment to attend these events and that defeats the cause.'' Mr. Edwards, who plans to meet with concert organisers and Youth and Sport officials -- who oversee the Stadium -- said less officers were rushing to sign up for concert duties for fear of threats to their lives.

Only seven officers of 23 requested by organisers for tonight's Reggae Sunsplash have signed up for security duty at the Stadium, he said.

Entertainment Ventures spokesman Mr. Murray Brown, who planned to have the Police, six private security guards and six dogs, has been advised to consider getting more private security.

And Mr. Edwards suggested that it was time for organisers to look at alternative concert venues.

"I'm not setting standards for reggae concerts,'' he said, "and it's not a matter of being anti-reggae because these people (reggae artists) are top stars that everyone wants to see. But there is an element who don't want to pay.

"As Police Commissioner I do not want to be responsible at the end of the day for mishaps there. I've got to be concerned about how the Police police.

"Maybe organisers have to ask themselves is National Stadium secure enough.'' Mr. Edwards said holding the concerts elsewhere would also help solve the noise problems which had upset some residents living near the Stadium.

While stressing that Police were experienced in dealing with large crowds such as at Cup Match, soccer games and other events held at the Stadium, he said they were not prepared to put their lives on the line.

Mr. Barry Fitzsimmons, who organises the annual Soca concert at Dockyard, said yesterday he was taking every security precaution possible.

"We have multi-coloured tickets which have a customised stamp so anybody who tries to duplicate them will find this very difficult.'' Mr. Fitzsimmons said anyone caught trying to use a fake $35 ticket to enter the concert, which features "Dollar Wind'' Taxi and "Lift Your Leg Up'' Spice and Company, will be immediately turned away.

He also warned that boaters will not be able to enjoy a free concert from the water, as happened last year.

"We will have additional screening systems on the water,'' he said, adding that a "bumper crowd'' was expected at the venue which can hold 5,000.