branded heavy-handed and insensitive, according to the Judge Stephen Tumim report.

Young people are automatic targets for Police -- particularly over traffic matters, the report states.

And it expresses concern at allegations of suspected traffic offenders being locked in cells overnight.

Judge Tumim also spotlights complaints of Police treating young blacks and whites differently.

He states: "The work of the magistrates and the Police in Bermuda involves systematic criminalisation of the young.

"The desire to respond firmly to serious crime has eclipsed the fact that it is destructive to do so at the expense of those who would not be criminals.

"To be a Policeman in Bermuda means that the young will be a target for attention, and the perception of the Police is not one of confidence, but of acceptance that things are the way they are, and cannot change.'' Judge Tumim, Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales, spent four weeks last summer examining Bermuda's criminal justice system.

His recommendations for the Police include: Video and tape recordings of Police interviews of suspects.

An independent Police complaints body.

A Police Commissioner appointed team to develop work in the community, and boost public confidence.

Seeing how they can help the road skills of the young.

Judge Tumim says the Police, made up equally of West Indians, Britons, and Bermudians, were not generally seen as racist.

But they were viewed by some as "insensitive and heavy handed'' in dealing with the public.

"Very little time was expended on training in community Policing. The potential for the work of parish constables remained largely untapped.'' The report says "Police intrusion'' was seen to be at its worst over traffic matters.

"Young people were automatic targets for `routine checks' on newly acquired vehicles; we were concerned at the number of reports of people being telephoned and asked to come into the Police station to sort out a traffic matter, only to find on arrival they were to be locked in the cells, and kept overnight.

"There was some evidence presented to us that Police differed in their approach to young blacks as opposed to whites.'' Judge Tumim stresses the Police service was not generally seen as "intentionally unfair''.

Judge Tumim says Police believed they administered a "firm but fair'' traffic control policy.

"Police suggested that in many cases, and in all the minor cases, the use of custody arose because of repeated failure to pay a fine.'' Judge Tumim states Police were not keen on being involved with community service, nor having their interviewing methods scrutinised.

"Observation of the courts and the Police in Bermuda led us to the conclusion that insufficient thought has been given to the constructive roles which magistrates and Police can play.'' In an initial response to the report, Police Commissioner Mr. Lennett (Lennie) Edwards said it would be "time costly and financially costly'' to introduce video cameras and audio tape recorders for interviews.

The whole Police force would have to be trained to become proficient at interviewing suspects with this equipment, he said.

"It is costly, but not prohibitive, although it seems no reason was given as to why it should be implemented.'' Mr. Edwards continued: "I welcome an independently based procedure of investigating complaints against the Police.

"We have worked very closely over the years with the Police Review Board which is comprised of civilians and we have no gripes about it.''