Plans to cut the number of senior officers in the Bermuda Police Service could send a negative signal to younger officers that their chances of advancement are limited, an Opposition MP said yesterday.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Mr. Alex Scott said at a press conference yesterday: "We have two concerns. One for the careers of the officers who will either have their career put on hold or they will be asked to resign or through natural attrition they will leave.

"Secondly it is the signal that is being sent to younger officers about their career prospects.

"At first blush it may look as though they can expect to move up into these vacancies in time.

"But it could also send a signal to those on the Force and those Bermuda would like to recruit to the Force, that this is an unstable environment for career opportunity.

"Bermudianisation and the morale of the Police Force will certainly take a blow as a result of an initiative that appears to thin out the top.'' Mr. Scott said the statistics demonstrated clearly that there is a racial and gender bias in the Police Service.

Consequently, if top jobs had to be lost, then it should be those jobs that non-Bermudians hold.

Furthermore, Mr. Scott said that since Black Bermudians and women have a limited share of the top jobs, it would be inappropriate to target them for removal.

"When one looks at the profile and makeup of the hierarchy,'' Mr. Scott continued. "Then if there is to be any thinning out, the target area should be the white Bermudian for no other reason than it is heavily weighted toward them.

"A large portion of those appointments are status Bermudians. It is important for the Police Service to reflect the community in order to get the support of the community.'' In a prepared statement, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Michael Mylod said the PLP had written to the Commissioner about the racial and national composition of the Bermuda Police Service.

He said the Commissioner had just set out the proposed structure for the future management of the Police Service and no thought has been given yet as to who would fill what post.

"When the time comes for this to be addressed,'' the statement read. "Then the posts will be filled by the most appropriate officers.

"Clearly with a reduced rank structure, promotion opportunities will be reduced. This pattern has been repeated throughout the British Police Service, industry and commerce.

"What the Service must now address is to make officers' posts more stimulating and rewarding and concentrate on lateral development.''