Police officers looking for affordable housing.

Some have even lived in guest houses just to find a suitable home for their families while being subject to the vagaries of the market which also leaves many Bermudians fuming.

And The Royal Gazette has learned a Bermudian officer has been ordered to move from the Police Barracks in Prospect even though he cannot find a home for his wife and two children.

Currently some un-married officers live in small studio efficiencies built more than 25 years ago.

The barracks' construction stems from the heyday of the overseas recruitment of single officers from the United Kingdom and the West Indies.

And married officers, both local and foreign, could apply for two bedroom accommodations at the Prospect Housing Complex at Alexandra and Mary Victoria Roads, Devonshire.

But in 1994 and 1995 under Commissioner Lennet Edwards, Government turned over the leases for the houses to the Bermuda Housing Corporation, which later led to an exodus from the properties.

Many officers are unwilling to live in certain neighbourhoods for fear of retaliation and revenge but cannot afford the high rents being asked for in the more desirable neighbourhoods.

Compounding the problem is the fact that a number of non-Bermudian spouses of non-Bermudian officers cannot work because of immigration restrictions thereby putting great strain on the family's finances.

One foreign born officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "To be honest the Edwards decision is definitely coming back to haunt us.'' Married officers say housing crunch unfair simply would not live in that we are forced to look at,'' he said. "I have arrested a substantial number of people and -- I hate to say it -- many of them live in certain areas.'' The officer, noting current commissioner, Jean-Jacques Lemay gets a housing allowance, adding: "But what about the constables? You have foreign officers locked in whose wives can't work, who say that if they didn't get overtime they couldn't afford to live in Bermuda.'' "It's just not fair. And it's high time somebody spoke on it,'' he said.

"Officers are doing second jobs just to make ends meet.'' Many of his colleagues struggle to put their children in private schools for fear of victimisation and retaliation in the neighbourhood public schools.

This puts an even greater strain on the families' finances, he said: "We just want to be somewhere where we feel safe,'' he added.

Police constables can earn anywhere from $3,006 to $3,894 a month depending on the amount of years in the Service, which has eight pay grades for constables.

The Police Association's Michael Jackman confirmed the union is aware of the problem of married officer housing, and while it had approached the United Bermuda Party government, it had not approached the new government.

"To be honest we haven't exactly raised it with the new government,'' Sgt.

Jackman said. "We know it is a problem but it is not a large problem. We have had some concerns, yes.'' Sgt. Jackman said his union asked for immigration restrictions to be relaxed for the spouses of non-Bermudian officers, rather than provide housing.

"Housing was an aside to the immigration issue that we took to the old government,'' he said. "At one stage we had a half dozen to a dozen spouses that couldn't work. That made it very difficult for the officers.'' In response to the problem, the Police Service is firm: "Provision for housing accommodation is not included in the Police contract signed by all officers when beginning employment with us.'' "Nor is it an issue or concern that has been raised by the Bermuda Police Association,'' a spokeswoman said. "It is incumbent on any officer joining the Service to have suitable accommodation for themselves and/or their families.'' She added: "Although the human resource department may assist officers in finding suitable accommodation if and when the need arises.'' But the plight of the Bermudian officer being forced from the Police Barracks has simmered for months with the man complaining of the Service's tactics toward a serving officer.

He said: "I've been looking for a decent apartment for two years. My wife has recently come here and we have been staying in the Barracks. I have been given notice to be out by the end of July.'' The man said the Service had not assisted in his situation -- an allegation the spokeswoman strongly denied.

"My price range with a foreign wife that is not working is often where we officers don't want to live,'' he said. "Headquarters say that other officers live there but that's ridiculous. What Police officer lives at 42nd Street? (St. Monica's Road)'' The constable added: "I can't afford over $1,500 a month. But what do I do? Send my wife away or live in the street or put her and my children in a drug neighbourhood?'' "Like other officers I simply cannot juggle the high rents, and high cost of living, while paying off bills,'' he said. "Bermuda is a very hard place to be a police officer. For locals and foreigners.'' The man has seen several housing deals fall through over the years and was given the special guest apartment at the Barracks in March for four months.

Sgt. Michael Jackman HOUSING HSG