a Police newspaper in England, The Royal Gazette learned yesterday.

Copies of the article -- which cast the Bermuda Police Service in a bad light before Mr. Mylod's arrival -- were sent anonymously to journalists in Bermuda this week.

It emerged yesterday the story appeared in the January edition of `Frontline', an in-house publication for the Hampshire Constabulary in southern England.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: "This is not a mainstream publication. It is purely a publication for the Police.'' Headlined "Paradise lost, but Mike brings hope'', the article was based on an interview with Mr. Mylod, who comes from the English port of Southampton.

It stated Mr. Mylod arrived in Bermuda to find the Police Service trapped in a time warp, morale rock-bottom, talent in the lower ranks stifled and buildings in appalling condition.

The story said there was an endemic drugs problem, domestic violence and child abuse was rife and the relationship between young blacks and the Police was non-existent.

"In addition there was a political undercurrent that did little to make the job easier -- a Parliament that held the purse strings and resented the appointment of expats as commissioner and deputy -- and a society in which 70 percent of the 58,000 residents were black and poor while the 30 percent whites tended to either be rich or very rich.'' The article added: "Eighteen months on Mike decided he had done enough, and is now back at his home on the waterfront in Southampton.'' Shadow Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott, describing the tone of the story "unfortunate but not surprising'', said: "Mr. Mylod was trying to create a little England out here in the mid-Atlantic.'' A Bermuda Police spokeswoman said some of Mr. Mylod's comments had been taken out of context.

At first it was thought the story was published in a Southampton daily newspaper.

But a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said yesterday the article was written by Press officer Kevin Briscoe, who was unavailable for comment.

The spokesman said Mr. Mylod was a man known for his good judgment.

"I know Mr. Mylod. He has very balanced views on most things.'' He added it would be inappropriate for the Press office to make any further comment, saying: "I think it would be better if you speak to Mr. Mylod instead.'' Mr. Mylod could not be reached for comment.

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