Mowbray study highlights Staff shortage blamed on Govt. policy Salary premiums proposed of up to ten percent Proposal to re-hire ex-Police officers A secret Government study has backed the recruitment of overseas Police officers to stem the force's manpower crisis.

The Mowbray report -- currently being discussed by top Police officials -- has been obtained in part by The Royal Gazette and gives an in-depth review of some of the issues facing the force.

And it warned that Government policy has halted hiring foreigners, resulting in falling staffing levels.

The report said the competition for local labour would mean a continuing need to supplement Bermudian officers with overseas staff.

The hard-hitting report added: "It is not surprising that Police Service staffing levels have fallen in the face of competing opportunities, particularly when Government policy has prevented the Service from maintaining its strength by overseas recruitment.

"The Commissioner has listed a number of measures designed to recruit and develop Bermudians. We support some combination of these measures and urge Government leaders to take the lead to encourage public interest in joining up.

"However, we believe that the competition for scarce local resources is so great that there will be a continuing need for outside recruitment.

"This should be recognised and faced, so Police Service standards can be maintained and improved.'' In addition, the report, compiled by the Police Pay and Conditions of Service Review Board, proposed salary "premiums'' of up to ten percent to compensate for the stress and demands of the job, and to compete with salaries offered in other professions.

The disclosures come as pay negotiations between the Police Association and the Government are set to go to arbitration. The breakdown came after officers rejected a package containing a basic 2.98 percent pay increase.

The Mowbray report backs Government measures designed to boost recruitment of Bermudians but says that alone will not be enough for the force as it goes into the Millennium.

Hire overseas Policemen, report says The report, first commissioned by the former UBP Government, also recommends re-hiring officers who have left the Service -- tapping into their expertise and experience -- on similar or higher salaries than when they left.

Whilst reviewing pay and conditions, the report noted the increasing workload of officers combined with a rise in violent crime, drug related offences -- bringing extra stress and physical danger.

It proposes premiums of between $2,447.28 and $3,052.92 -- backdated to 1997, when the last contract expired -- and being phased in after that.

Extra annual leave should also be backdated to then, the report says.

The Government has offered a basic 2.98 percent pay rise, plus combined premiums of between six and ten percent -- but phased in over the next four years.

The report concludes that, in future, the premium should be adjusted at the same time salaries are increased, to maintain the differential rate between them.

It adds: "We believe that establishing and then maintaining this differential will recognise more clearly and fairly the unique role played by the Police, involving exposure to stress and danger. And the restrictions placed on officers and their families because of their duties.''