Shadow Home Affairs minister Michael Dunkley has stepped forward in support of the Police Service's call for a zero tolerance policy of drug use.

And seeking to correct and clarify comments attributed to him in yesterday's Royal Gazette Mr. Dunkley said the "vast majority'' of Police and Customs officers uphold the law.

But he said there needed to be more "feedback'' or information -- in the interests of "justice and transparency'' -- about the investigation being conducted into the officer allegedly smoking cannabis while on duty at a soccer match on Sunday.

"This has gone on for a couple of days,'' Mr. Dunkley said. "We haven't heard much from the Commissioner and the Minister about the situation. The community demands transparency and justice being firm and fair.'' "We believe the vast majority of Police and Customs officers are upstanding in their role of serving the community,'' he said. "When we do have situations like this, Government needs to step forward and explain what's going on.'' Mr. Dunkley said the main reason for this was that Police and Customs officers have responsibilities of enforcing the law, adding the community could lose confidence in whether or not the process was fair or not.

"It's of paramount importance that they deal with this fairly and swiftly following the full course of justice,'' he added. "But there is some concern there is no real push to uphold the law by being firm and fair.'' Mr. Dunkley explained it appeared problems in the community were being "allowed to fester'' particularly the case of the suspended officer.

"We're not clear how this is being handled,'' he said. "I think it's important that all citizens be subject to the same rules and regulations.

"If that were you or I the charges would have been laid and the matter would be resolved by now. This has to be clear and transparent with what is going on now.'' And he also challenged the officer's suspension with pay, saying: "When you get pay during a suspension, it makes it most important that you get to the bottom of the situation quickly.'' He added that this was not only to clear the person's name but also if the person is guilty, justice is swift.

"The last time I checked, marijuana and other drugs are illegal,'' he said.

"Police should be subject to random searches. We subject amateur athletes to them and we don't test the Police?'' He said his party supported both a "punitive and rehabilitative'' punishment for people who use drugs.

Mr. Dunkley said UBP parliamentarians are willing to "stand up and lead by example'' by being randomly drug tested and called on Government members to do the same, adding "we really need to get serious''.

Michael Dunkley