The axing of two leading Policemen's jobs will put more constables on the beat, Government said yesterday.

And now Assistant Commissioner Wayne Perinchief and Supt. George Rose have been offered other jobs in the Bermuda Civil Service.

Alternatively, the pair can accept a cash severance package.

The news was revealed yesterday by Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness.

He strongly refuted any suggestion the two officers were being made "scapegoats''.

"The process allows a freeing up of the service to put more constables on the street,'' he said. "It also creates the opportunity to bring young talented Bermudian officers through the ranks and to develop them for higher command responsibility.'' It was a point reinforced at the Press conference by Deputy Commissioner Michael Mylod, who said the Service had been top heavy with rank.

"We are trying to get back a proper ratio between the supervisors and the supervised.'' Mr. Mylod said other top jobs in the Service may have to be "rejigged''.

In his Police Service Strategy, Commissioner Colin Coxall pledged to cut top management by 40 percent.

The decision to forcibly retire the officers, however, has been condemned by the Opposition Progressive Labour Party.

Shadow Labour Minister Alex Scott said: "It's very much like having a war on crime and removing the generals.'' Yesterday, Mr. Edness said Mr. Coxall had examined the Service with Management Services and the Department of Personnel.

He pointed out Mr. Coxall had presented his strategy to Cabinet in July, and outlined a proposed "top management structure.'' "That was predicated on a Deputy Commissioner and one Assistant Commissioner.

This was accepted by Cabinet at that time.'' Mr. Edness explained the Finance Minister and Management Services Department presented a paper to Cabinet in November.

Among other thing, this proposed that the senior management of the Police be reviewed.

"That meant the abolition of two assistant posts -- one of which was vacant and the other being the Assistant Commissioner which was held by Assistant Commissioner, Wayne Perinchief.

"The functions of the two abolished posts were incorporated into the new single Assistant Commissioner's post and the newly created civilian post of Director of Administration. This has been approved by Government.'' Mr. Edness said Mr. Perinchief and Mr. Rose had been interviewed privately, and were given two options to consider.

One was to be redeployed within the Civil Service "at their present grade'', and the other to accept a financial package.

Mr. Edness said the pair expressed an interest in the package prepared by the Accountant General and presented to them by Mr. Mylod.

They were given until November 30 to reply.

"Both officers have sought further clarification on the offer. If either officer wishes to discuss redeployment, the offer is open for them to do so.'' Mr. Edness went on to reject rumours of a rift between Mr. Coxall and Mr.

Mylod.

"There is no foundation to these stories,'' he said.