Webb to either substantiate her "outrageous'' claim that there are too many corrupt officers or withdraw it.

Bermuda Police Association chairman Inspector Michael DeSilva said officers had been "collectively slandered'' by the remark, which would undermine the trust of the public in the Police.

He and Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay said blanket allegations of corruption would deliver a blow to Police morale and both urged Ms Webb to give specific evidence so it could be investigated.

And the United Bermuda Party urged Premier Jennifer Smith to either support Ms Webb's claims or reject them.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister, Michael Dunkley said Ms Webb's remarks would be picked up by others in the community and lead to a breakdown in law and order.

The controversy erupted yesterday after The Royal Gazette revealed Ms Webb said there were many good officers but "too many corrupt ones''.

She was incensed after a leaked Police report alleged she was "looking for trouble'', when officers refused her a VIP parking spot at the weekend World Rugby Classic final, which followed on from Police dropping a speeding ticket against her for unexplained "procedural irregularities''.

Ms Webb, who stands in as minister in charge of Police when Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox is off Island, said: "Specifically, it is because they lie and or doctor the truth, in this (the parking) instance and in a past instance I had with them.'' In a letter published in today's Royal Gazette , Insp. DeSilva said: "The blanket statement about Police corruption has not only caused rumblings of disaffection among the membership, but will serve only to weaken the trust of the general public in the integrity of the Police Service.'' He said Ministers should be shown deference by officers, but "should that courtesy not be extended this does not warrant an allegation of corruption within the service''.

"Allegations of the improper conduct of Police officers may be determined by way of a complaint and a proper disciplinary investigation,'' he continued.

"There is no connection that can be made between what Ms Webb encountered and the concept of corruption.

"As chairman of the BPA, representing some 430 serving Police officers, I am disturbed by the fact that the membership has been collectively slandered by this outrageous remark.'' See Editorial, Page 4 Police outraged by minister's comments "If Ms Webb has evidence or information about specific incidents of corruption by any members of the service then she has both the opportunity and the obligation to report such matters through the appropriate mechanisms.

"To state that Police officers `lie and/or doctor the truth' is irresponsible and serves to alienate the Police from the public.

"I therefore urge the public to consider only those facts that are proved and I urge the Minister to withdraw this statement unless the allegation can be substantiated.'' Mr. Lemay said yesterday that Ms Webb had told him on Wednesday that she thought some, though not all, officers were corrupt.

Picking up Insp. DeSilva's theme, he urged Ms Webb to come forward with specific information.

"To make a blanket statement that there is corruption in the Police Service does no service to us. I would invite the Minister to come forward with specific information about corruption so we can do something about it,'' he said.

"Some officers are very concerned about the headline in today's Royal Gazette and we are addressing that carefully.

"We are conveying to the men and the women that we are very supportive of what is being done out there.

"There has been very good work done by the men and women of the Police Service and for her to say there's corruption underscores a lot of the positive things being done in recent years.'' He claimed Police did not get proper credit for the positive things they did.

Dealing with speeding tickets was "not talking about the major issues and crimes like drug problems in Bermuda, violence against women, crime against residents.

"There are core issues yet the focus is on speeding and someone not allowed to go into a parking area. I don't want to downplay the importance of that, but there are bigger issues.'' Ms Webb's comments dominated the UBP caucus yesterday. After the meeting Mr.

Dunkley issued a statement on behalf of the party expressing "alarm and concern'' about the claims.

"If the Minister stands by her allegation, then the Premier should advise the people of Bermuda whether the Government stands by the accuracy of the claim,'' he said.

"It is simply unacceptable that the Premier or the Government ignores these comments from a minister. The claim, if not withdrawn with an apology, should be substantiated.

"It cannot ever be acceptable for such a serious charge to be levelled publicly against the Bermuda Police Service by a Cabinet member, and a member who has herself acted as the Minister when the appointed Minister is off the Island.

"It is our opinion that this action seriously erodes the confidence which the men and women of the Police Service must have in the Government of the day.

"Furthermore it undermines their ability to carry out their important work with the support and respect of the Government and of the public at large.'' The Royal Gazette left messages with Ms Webb last night but she did not return calls.

Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said yesterday: "In terms of widespread corruption, I have no evidence of that.

"With regard to the specific allegations of corruption, Ms Webb presumably has information to document that.

"I am not aware of any specific incidents of corruption in the Police but there is a certain protocol and there is a principle, whether it is a member of the Government or the Opposition, Police do have a code of ethics, and it is unusual to breach whatever internal governance they have and submit information (to the Press).'' Rugby World Classic organiser John Kane said yesterday that Police were only doing their job when they turned away Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb when she asked for a VIP parking space.

Mr. Kane said organisers did not know Ms Webb, who was a guest of TeleBermuda, was going to attend the final on Saturday, so no space had been left for her.

He said the organisers knew Governor Thorold Masefield, Premier Jennifer Smith and Deputy-Premier Eugene Cox might attend, so parking spaces had been reserved for them at the National Sports Club.

"Renee Webb was a guest of one of the corporate hospitalities and to my knowledge they didn't tell us,'' he said.

"The point is, we don't keep car parking spaces for 40 MPs, if we did so it would take up 20 percent of our car park.

"Had we known she was coming, we would have kept a space, but we didn't know she was coming.

"The people in the car park had only been told the Governor and the Premier and Deputy Premier were coming.

"Had someone from corporate hospitality said we've got a minister coming, we would have kept a space and told the guys at the car park. The Police were only doing their duty.''