Commissioner Colin Coxall and his changes in the Police Service. For far too long Commissioner Coxall has been left to fend for himself and he does that very well.

We think that the Government failed to understand that silence was tantamount to agreeing to the attacks on Commissioner Coxall by the PLP's Alex Scott just as Mr. Scott fails to understand that attacking the Police constantly is tantamount to support for crime and criminals.

When the people are fed anger and hatred aimed at a public figure who is doing a job for the Country, it may be possible for a politician to make some temporary impression. However, appealing to the emotions to score political points at public expense is dangerous and unethical.

The Bermudian law-abiding public of whatever political persuasion knows that Bermudians want and need a safe and secure Country. They know that because that is what they want for themselves. The public knows that crime is down and that Colin Coxall is doing a good job for Bermuda and that he is doing a job which needed doing.

Mr. Scott says that his attacks are as a result of complaints to him by Policemen. Mr. Scott has had virtually no managerial experience but he should know that people who are being reorganised, reassigned, put back on the beat and pushed to produce are going to complain. That is human nature. However, the public is not complaining. When you see break-ins down by almost 50 percent, the public is not going to complain.

Let's not be mistaken. Bermuda still has too much crime. But the truth is that things are much better than they were when Colin Coxall arrived in Bermuda despite the badgering he has taken from the PLP.

Some things are in the national good and should be above politics. Combating crime is certainly in that category.

We are not suggesting that the Police Service should never be examined, because that would allow for a lax performance. But we are suggesting that criticism should stay away from personalities and stick to policy and performance. Destroying the Commissioner is not in the public interest.

Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness who came to the defence of Commissioner Coxall last Friday is entirely correct when he says: "Perhaps we can hear Mr.

Scott condemn criminals and the sellers of drugs to our children.'' Bermuda must not forget that the decision to look overseas for a Commissioner of Police and the decision to reorganise the Police Service came about because of public alarm at rising crime. It did not come about because of some sinister intent to replace Bermudians at the top of the Police Service or because of some UBP political plot but because of general public concern over crime.

As Mr. Edness has said, Bermuda needed to be careful that violent crime did not get out of hand. Bermudians want to be safe. Visitors come here because Bermuda is safe. As Mr. Edness says, efforts to combat crime are not helped by Mr. Scott's constant sniping at the Police.