The men were among 25 British and West Indian constables whose contracts were not renewed last year. Some jobs were later saved. Nineteen of the officers have now mounted a lawsuit against Government, claiming they were unfairly let go.

Police Commissioner Lennett Edwards, however, would be unlikely to employ anyone involved in the action -- despite the wave of violence sweeping the Country. "I think it would be unethical for the Commissioner to take on officers while a lawsuit is pending,'' said Police spokeswoman Sgt. Roseanda Jones. She said two officers had applied in writing for jobs. "About four others have made inquiries over the telephones.'' Sgt. Jones rubbished any suggestion officers had been offered their jobs back in return for dropping the lawsuit. "We can't stipulate that as a condition,'' she stressed. She added, however, the force was stretched to the limit in dealing with the recent crime wave. The force at full strength had 489 men -- currently there were just 432, pointed out Sgt. Jones.

Mr. Edwards recently ordered his officers to work longer hours.

It was March last year the Policemen learned their lives on the Island were over amid a furious outcry. One allegedly had hospital treatment for shock after hearing he had just one working day left. Another reportedly needed breathing equipment to stop him fainting.

The officers -- including parish constables and specialists in marine work, narcotics and traffic -- were near the end of five-year contracts.

Hit especially hard was the emergency response firearms team -- thought to have lost a third of its men. Some officers blasted Government and the Commissioner over the handling of the decision to wield the axe and the amount of notice given. They pointed out they were aged 27 to 32 and had made lifelong commitments to Bermuda. Police last year blamed the jobs losses on big cuts to their Budget. But Sgt. Jones said the force had lost more men since then through "natural attrition'', including retirements.

"People have left the force, and some local officers have left for further education. Some have left to seek other employment.'' Police had been driven to advertise for jobs in January and February. Sgt.

Jones said it was hoped 20 recruits would join a 16-week training course in June. This would be for 18 to 36-year-old Bermudians.

"They would join the course as Police constables,'' Sgt. Jones added.

One of the English officers booted from Bermuda, 29-year-old P.c. Steve Donnelly, told The Royal Gazette how he would leap at the chance to rejoin the Island's force. "I would love to come back. I have a lot of friends in Bermuda,'' he said from his Police barracks in the Warwickshire town of Nuneaton in the English Midlands.

P.c. Donnelly said he was one of the 19 suing Government's lawyer, the Attorney General. "It's a tricky situation, but I would be very tempted to drop the suit if I was offered my job back, although I might feel guilty about letting the others down.'' P.c. Donnelly believed the officers who were let go should have first refusal for any jobs. He pointed out they had a "lot of local knowledge'' about Bermuda, which would given them a huge advantage.

P.c. Donnelly, who has a two-year job lined up in the Cayman Islands, said he would be phoning Bermuda's Police about a possible job.

"Now that you have rung me, I will telephone next week.''