Governor Sir Richard Gozney has resisted the call by Government politicians for a Commission of Inquiry into claims of corruption in the Police force.

Last week former Cabinet Minister Wayne Perinchief said it was needed after alleging hard-core drug pushers have been caught red-handed but let off the hook.

It's understood Mr. Perinchief, a former Assistant Police Commissioner, believes around a half-a-dozen low-ranking officers could be under suspicion.

His corruption claims, made on the floor of the House last week, were backed up in this newspaper by fellow Progressive Labour Party MP Ashfield DeVent.

Yesterday, at a press conference at Government House, Sir Richard indicated he has met with Mr. Perinchief.

He added: "His concerns are with the relevant authorities, he was not the only one to make that comment, there were a couple of other people just last week, one senior politician, one backbench MP in the press today.

"There needs to be hard evidence."

Asked about the Commission of Inquiry, which would involve overseas authorities probing Police, prisons and customs, Sir Richard said: "I don't think it is necessary".

He urged anyone with specific details of corruption to forward their concerns to Police Commissioner George Jackson.

"He is a very honest, upright, straightforward man. I have no doubt if people have evidence of Police corruption he will act on it."

But Sir Richard said he was taking the allegations very seriously.

He said: "I would not have made the offer I did to ask Mr. Perinchief to talk to me if I hadn't been alarmed."

He said the allegation had also been made by an unnamed "senior Government politician".

Addressing the media after a spate of drive-by shootings which saw Kenwandee Robinson murdered in St. Monica's Road last month, the Governor also said he had suggested a forum to allow Cabinet more input on combating crime.

He added: "I have proposed to the Premier [Ewart Brown] and [Public Safety] Minister [David] Burch a new forum in which Ministers would have a more direct influence on Police strategy, objectives and priorities."

He said he did not yet know Government's response to the proposal but he said full details would be released if Cabinet Office gives its blessing.

But amid ping-pong accusations over who is responsible for the Police force Sir Richard said: "I won't politick on this issue. Ultimately, for oversight of the overall performance of the Bermuda Police Service, the buck stops with me."

He said there had been a doubling of the Serious Crime Unit, a third more officers in the Police Support Unit and twice as many uniformed officers in the central area, focusing on Court Street, Curving Avenue and 42nd Street.

But Sir Richard could give no commitment on how long the heightened policing would last.

"It is not something which is going to stop within days or even a week or two."

And he urged the public to give Police information to help them nail the criminals, preferably via sworn statements but, if not, via tip-offs.Recent court cases had shown how murderers such as those who killed Matthew Clarke and Aquil Richardson could be put away when people did their duty and acted as witnesses.While stressing politicians had jurisdiction over law changes, he suggested a review of the Bail Act to stop multiple repeat offenders committing crime while awaiting trial.And he suggested legislation to enable Police to force gang members to remove masks so they can be identified.Sir Richard also suggested those on the drug court rehabilitation programme, which gives sentence breaks to those trying to get clean, should be sent back to Westgate if they fail to attend.Probed on whether is was time for specific anti-gang legislation, Sir Richard said such laws were more useful in places such as the States where gangs were more structured with headquarters and other premises to go after.Quizzed on whether cameras needed to be used more in crime hotspots, he said that was an operational matter for Police chiefs.