on the beat according to Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay.

Responding to a recent revelation in The Royal Gazette that eight out of 21 Caribbean recruits had not passed the fitness test, Mr. Lemay said this would not stop them taking up their duties later this month.

He said the officers, who all passed medicals in their own country, would be encouraged to get fitter and reach the level required in Bermuda.

He said: "They will be encouraged to get themselves physically fit but you have to appreciate they have travelled thousands of miles from different countries.

"They are probably not familiar with our physical fitness test. Once they have finished the (five week) course they will be hitting the streets and operational and we will work with them to get them to the physical fitness level respected in Bermuda.'' Mr. Lemay revealed that he pulled the 21 officers off their training course to use them in the sweep against gang violence.