An independent inquiry into the Bermuda Police narcotics squad is to be held, Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness told MPs yesterday.

And the inquiry -- chaired by a civilian -- will make its findings public.

Mr. Edness told the House of Assembly: "When something like this occurs which could undermine public confidence in the Police, it is important to take immediate steps to investigate the matter thoroughly.'' But Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott -- while welcoming the probe -- called for a wider investigation into the Police force as a whole.

The inquiry announcement was prompted by events surrounding the acquital of Ellsworth Wilson on drugs charges and the probe was ordered after consultation with Governor Thorold Masefield.

The case against Mr. Wilson collapsed after whistleblowing Det. Cons. Lendrea Davis claimed she had been pressured by other officers to change her written statements to match those of other officers involved in the investigation.

Mrs. Justice Wade praised the woman cop -- who resigned from the force last week -- for showing "tremendous courage'' in the face of severe pressure.

Mr. Edness admitted yesterday the case had caused "understandable concern and unease in the minds of the public about the conduct of some members of the Police in the investigation and presentation of the case.'' Mr. Wilson was acquitted on charges of possessing and handling more than $50,000 worth of heroin and having the drug with intent to supply last year.

He walked free from Supreme Court after Puisne Judge Norma Wade directed the jury to return formal not guilty verdicts on all the charges, ruling that the continuity of evidence had not been maintained.

And she slammed the drugs squad handling of the case as "the most reprehensible conduct'' she had ever seen and added that "it brought the entire Police force into disrepute''.

The Police later announced that ex-Det. Cons. Davis was under investigation for two alleged "serious breaches of conduct'' before the controversy over the Wilson case erupted -- and a spokeswoman added that the former detective would still be the subject of internal inquiries if she had not resigned.

Deputy Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay announced an internal probe into the controversy and claims of Police bungling of the case last week.

But Mr. Wilson's defence lawyer Tim Marshall called for a commission of inquiry into Police procedures, while lawyers acting for Ms Davis asked for an independent inquiry.

Mr. Edness said: "I expect His Excellency the Governor to announce the members and detailed terms of reference of the inquiry shortly.'' And he added that the question of whether criminal charges should be brought in connection with the Police handling of the case was under "active investigation'' -- and would not be held over to await the inquiry's findings.

Mr. Edness stressed he had confidence in the ability of the Police service.

And he said: "Whatever the outcome of this inquiry, the Country owes a particular debt to the men and women of the narcotics division who are at the forefront of our efforts to eliminate the scourge of drugs ...

"Their performance during the recent Cleansweep operation has provided fresh hope and inspiration to us all.'' But Mr. Scott said the Wilson case "brings into question the supervision, management and the whole notion that the Police service has been, as much of the publicity has suggested, made anew -- a lean, mean, working machine.

"The failure of the investigation to have brought solid evidence forward calls for an inquiry into the narcotics squad for the obvious reason.

"But I think this would be a good moment in time to take stock as to what has been accomplished by the current heads of the Police service and what should be accomplished -- especially as we are coming to the end of Commissioner Coxall's three year contract.

"We could get an independent audit of the Police service and how it has performed over the past two or three years.

"The Police themselves have already conducted an inquiry and only minutes after the court case began the fabric of the evidence unravelled. This raises serious questions, not only about the narcotics squad, but into the whole incident, which was given more or less a clean bill of health.'' Mr. Scott added that a general inquiry should have a panel of two Bermudian figures, plus a top-ranking judge or Police officer, from the Caribbean or elsewhere, rather than an English-trained officer like Her Majesty's Inspector of Dependent Territories Police Lionel Grundy, who has already conducted a review of the Bermuda force.

Lawyers acting for Ms Davis were yesterday apparently unavailable for comment until next week.

And a Police spokeswoman was yesterday staying tight-lipped over Mr. Edness's announcement.

She issued a short statement on behalf of Mr. Lemay which said he "welcomed and supported'' the probe.

POLICE POL