Police are setting up consultative committees across the Island to gauge public attitudes to law and order.

Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister revealed she had written to a cross-section of the public this week to take part in the committees in the Western, Central, and Eastern Police areas.

The consultative committees will look at crime, traffic, and disorder problems and help the Police establish partnerships.

Ms Cox told the House of Assembly on Friday: "Underpinning the appointment of individuals to these committees is the belief that the consent of the community is essential if the Police Service is to operate at its optimum level.

"The Police Service is working towards a more pro-active style of policing, one that emphasises the identification of problems and working with the community in order to find solutions..

"I firmly that this important direction in policing will succeed only where there is honest and open dialogue between the Police Service and the community.'' Ms Cox also revealed that with the appointment of officers from the United Kingdom and the Caribbean, the force now has 431 officers -- four short of the full establishment.

She said: "It is our expectation that local officers, the younger Bermudian members of the Service in particular, will derive considerable benefit from the shared experience of the non-Bermudian officers, with the result that there will be a significant enhancement of the Police Service.''