The Police Complaints Authority received 138 new complaints in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Home Affairs Minister David Burch said yesterday.

Providing details from the annual reports of those three years, the Senator said the Authority had dealt with 15 of those new cases during that time, as well as a further 161 which had been made in previous years.

Sen. Burch told the Upper House issues dominating 2006 and 2007 had been permanent office space, administrative support and development of an electronic database.

Since June this year, the Authority has been located in offices on Front Street; while temporary staff have bolstered the administrative team; and the implementation of the electronic database is "progressing".

He said in a Ministerial Statement: "The work of the Police Complaints Authority continues to assist both the public and the Bermuda Police Service as we endeavour to improve Bermuda's criminal justice system.

"I encourage those who have complaints to lodge them with the Authority."