defence lawyers and their clients hit out yesterday at the Service and Bermuda's criminal laws.

Former detective constable Mr. Philip Swift charged a "radical change'' in Bermuda's laws was needed -- not a "witch-hunt for wrongdoers''.

But the Englishman denied he had ever sold information on Police wrongdoings allegedly committed in major drug cases he worked on.

Defence lawyer Mr. Archie Warner had claimed during the Supreme Court drugs trial of Larry Ebbin that Mr. Swift had tried to sell information of "Police improprieties''.

One of those "improprieties'', he said, included narcotics officers using bogus search warrants in their investigations.

They would carry around typewriters in the backs of their cars and simply fill in blank but signed search warrants when needed, he submitted.

During a hearing in the absence of the jury, Mr. Warner had produced letters Mr. Swift allegedly wrote to Mr. Ted Ming and Mr. Wallace Wellman -- who had both been accused of drug smuggling -- offering to help get them off.

Mr. Warner also called Police Commissioner Mr. Lenny Edwards to the stand to ask him whether Mr. Swift had been fired from the Service.

Mr. Edwards said he did not know how Mr. Swift came to leave the Service. And Puisne Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade ruled the letters inadmissible, noting they had not been signed and no stamped-envelopes had been produced.

Mr. Ebbin was acquitted of all charged against him on Tuesday after a jury deliberated barely an hour.

Mr. Swift, speaking from Kent, England where he now lives and works for a private company, said he had offered only his "services'' to local lawyers and drug defendants.

He conceded he had written to both Mr. Ming and Mr. Wellman offering them assistance.

And he said he met briefly with lawyer Ed Bailey and his client Mr. Wellman in London.

Mr. Wellman was acquitted of drug charges while his brother and co-defendant Everette was freed on appeal. Mr. Ming, once Mr. Ebbin's landlord, was convicted in his trial, but also freed on appeal.

Mr. Swift said he had no idea whether Mr. Bailey had used the opinions he shared with him during their London meeting.

The ex-policeman described his services as "my professional opinion on cases and comments on possibilities and potential scenarios given (Bermuda's) law as it exists''.

He stressed: "I have never received funds for my services to date. And I do not sell information about `wrong doings'.'' However, Mr. Swift said he would certainly charge anyone he met with for his time, basing his fees on those of defence lawyers.

Mr. Swift declined to comment on whether he was witness to any wrongdoings -- including whether officers used bogus search warrants -- during his four-year term in the Service.

He added: "I make no secret of my bitterness (for the Bermuda Police Service).'' Mr. Swift claimed he was unfairly demoted, after which the Service refused to renew his contract, labelling him a "loose canon''.

He said the reasons he was given -- he bucked authority and attempted to record a chief inspector -- were "unsubstantiated allegations''.

In responding to Mr. Warner's allegations at a press conference on Wednesday, the Police Commissioner assured that his officers would be looking into them.

He said he had watched with "horror'' as Mr. Warner told reporters that Police administration had dealt with allegations of improprieties on the Force in a "supercilious'' manner.

Mr. Edwards, however, said there would be no special investigation into allegations that "Bermuda officials'' and a local lawyer were involved in an international drug trafficking ring. When pressed on the issue, he refused to answer any further questions.

A senior narcotics officer had testified during Mr. Ebbin's trial that "Bermuda officials'' were involved in a Cuban drug-smuggling ring.