Bermuda's emergency services and the Bermuda Regiment got the seal of approval from a top Royal Navy officer at the weekend.

Rear Admiral Tom Blackburn, the defence attache at the British Embassy in Washington DC, was on the Island for a major exercise to report on the ability of the Police, Fire Service and armed forces to cope in crisis conditions.

And he said: "My initial impressions are that Bermuda has every right to be pleased and reassured with the performance of the Police, Regiment and Fire Service in their ability to protect the public.'' Admiral Blackburn was speaking at the end of Exercise Bermuda Guard, designed to test the responses of Bermuda's front line services in a mock major crisis.

The Admiral, who acted as exercise director, added that the full debriefing had not yet taken place to examine in detail how the exercise went.

But he said: "It's been very encouraging -- we have checked procedures with tactics and it's gone very well.

"As best as I can judge at the moment, there are no issues of major substance which have to be addressed. It is much more to do with fine tuning.'' Exercise sharpens skills, ability and confidence to face problems "The ability to control three different units has gone encouragingly well.'' The exercise was based on major civil disorder after the takeover of Bermuda's trade union movement by radical elements, dissatisfied with slow progress on contract negotiations for blue collar workers.

After the arrest of a trade union executive for obstructing police officers during a drugs raid on a nightclub, the situation deteriorated.

Against a background of attacks on the Magistrates' Court and Police, as well as a major arson incident and street violence, the Governor declared a state of emergency and called out the Bermuda Regiment to act in support of the Police and Fire Service.

Around 480 of the Regiment's 700 strength took part in the exercise, protecting strategic points like Bermuda International Airport, bridges and key buildings like the Cabinet Building and the Fire Service HQ.

Around 60 Police officers took part in the exercise, which was controlled from the Police HQ in Prospect.

Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Mylod, who acted as exercise controller, said: "If we have an exercise without mistakes, it would be a disaster. There are things which have to be addressed, like shortfalls in the way the Regiment and the Police service inter-operate and we have identified some training needs.

"Some aspects of communications need to be improved -- reception was not always what it should be. But overall, it's been a great success. The plus points far outweigh the minuses.

"All three services have shown a very good attitude and all the players from Government Ministers down have entered into it with great enthusiasm.

"This type of exercise sharpens our skills, ability and confidence to face any problems which Bermuda could face, be they natural or man-made.'' Mr. Mylod was backed by the Bermuda Regiment's Commanding Officer, Col. David Burch.

Col. Burch said: "It's good to get the troops out to practise the drills they have been doing in national security mode. The recommendations made as a result of the exercise will then dictate our training in the future.'' Col. Burch said the exercise had shown up differences in the way the Police and Regiment deploy resources, with soldiers tending to move in larger groups than the Police.

He added: "Because of the way the exercise was structured, we have been forced to keep that very much in mind and that has been a bonus.

"The Commissioner of Police and I have already had discussions on how we can develop that understanding.'' Col. Burch agreed that communications had sometimes been difficult, but that funds would now be re-allocated to improve radio equipment.

But he said: "I believe without any reservations that the people of Bermuda should draw every confidence from the fact that the three services are committed to working together for the good of Bermuda.''