More money needs to be pumped into policing to allow officers do their jobs properly, according to the Opposition.

Yesterday, United Bermuda Party Leader Kim Swan recommended further training, increased overtime and more officers to help the Bermuda Police Force deal with worsening gun crime.

And Opposition Senator Michael Dunkley said that while Government increased this year's policing budget by eight percent to $65 million, in reality the money allotted was less than what Government spent in 2007 and 2008.

In 2007 Government allocated $57 million to policing but actually spent $69 million. In 2008 $62 million was allocated and $71 million was spent.

Last year Government provided a budget of $60 million <\!m> the actual figure spent is not yet known.

Yesterday, Mr. Swan criticised Government for their poor planning and lack of financial support for the BPS.

"As violent crime reached unprecedented levels in late 2006 and 2007, they cut the Police budget," he said. "Despite everything that has happened the Police budget remains below what it was in 2007.

"For years they kept Police manpower below its mandated level. They imposed overtime bans that limited Police presence on the streets.

"In late 2007 overseas training for Police was cancelled [EmDash] a move that deprived officers of opportunities to develop skills that could be in play today.

"And they grandstand in the wake of shocking crimes with emergency meetings, followed by tough words, action plans and then... nothing."

[JUMP]The Opposition Leader also criticised Government for using public safety to "advance their independence agenda" by refusing to meet with the Governor to discuss policing.

As a further example, Mr. Swan cited frequent Government comments that it was unable to control policing because it was the Governor's responsibility.

Government is in charge of allocating money for policing while the Governor overseas policing policies.

Sen. Dunkley said: "The Government needs to loosen the purse strings when it comes to Police overtime, particularly for specialist officers whose numbers are limited. We need to give the Police all the elbow room necessary to do the job and this is one way we can do that.

"We want manpower increased to the maximum. The service has been kept below its mandated level as a money-saving measure and it must end."

This year the service employs 477 officers; last year it employed 467 officers.

Opposition MP Trevor Moniz said it was also unhelpful that Police were forced to march on Parliament and engage in a legal battle against the Government to gain a pay rise.

Last week when the Senate debated the Police budget, Minister Burch explained that the pay rise the Police were awarded had eaten up a majority of the eight percent increase.

Opposition Senator Jeanne Atherden asked why the increase had not been budgeted for.

"It was budgeted for, but there was an extortionate, in my words, pay award and housing allocation, that was not budgeted for by the tribunal," said Sen. Burch.

"There was a cost of living [increase] but the award was over and above that. This is one of the reasons I am fighting against the combined allowances as pension because that would add an extra $7 million to the public purse.

"It would be unlawful."

In 2008 Government and the Bermuda Police Association agreed on a pay increase which would see officers receive a 5.8 percent one-off "uplift" on their original pay in October 2005, plus a five percent increase for each of the last three years. Police have a starting salary of $70,000.

The Government and Police are still fighting over whether or not officers' 'combined allowance' - which amounts to ten percent of their pay [EmDash] is a salary supplement or part of their salary. The matter is now before the UK Privy Council. If the court rules it is part of salary and therefore pensionable, it will cost millions in extra pension payouts.