A pioneering scheme to get the Police closer to the community could be axed due to lack of public interest, it was revealed this week.

Parish Constables currently spend time in local Post Offices at set times so members of the public can raise concerns with them.

But Deputy Police Commissioner Mr. Michael Mylod said: "The number of people who go there is so minimal, I'm seriously considering whether to keep it going.

"The officers sit there for two hours waiting for people to discuss their problems and very few members of the public use the service.'' But he added that the Parish Constable system was one of the main planks of Police reform undertaken by himself and Police Commissioner Colin Coxhall.

Mr. Mylod said that Bermuda had enough Police officers -- but too many were tied up on administrative and technical services rather than pounding the beat.

But he pledged a process of civilianising the force would lead to more officers being released to serve as Parish Constables and for anti-drugs duty.

Mr. Mylod said: "People in Bermuda want a visible, approachable and user-friendly Police force.

"Parish Constables have to be the bedrock of policing. They are of the community and in the community and that's where they should be.

"Officers will be returned to the streets and the parishes, where they can interact and become part of the community they serve.'' A total of ten officers will be released from non-policing roles in this financial year, with a further 15 the following year.

They will be used to beef up community policing and to swell the ranks of the drugs squad.

Mr. Mylod was speaking at a meeting of the Hamilton Lions, held in the Hamilton Princess.

He told the Lions that he was one-third of the way through his two year engagement with the Bermuda Police and that progress was being made.

Mr. Mylod said that the force's staff appraisal scheme had been brought up to date, with assistance from the Police Association and self-appraisal had been introduced.

Initial Police training for new recruits has also been revamped, while a Force newspaper, designed to keep the front line in touch with future plans has also been started.

Mr. Mylod said: "Training for recruits was a bit mechanistic -- we have introduced more inter-personal skills and tried to increase sociological and criminological understanding.'' He added that the force's promotion boards had also been changed, with an observer from the Police Association present at interviews.

But Mr. Mylod warned that change could not be achieved overnight and that it would take time to bring in new practices.

He added: "There is much yet to be done. It's a start. It looks good and the raw materials are good and that makes it very worthwhile.

"I find my job immensely challenging and very rewarding because I can see a clear and ever-growing light at the end of the tunnel.'' But he warned: "People expect things to get magically better and they don't -- it's a long, hard haul and it takes time.''