prison population is expected to follow the Judge Stephen Tumim report.

Sweeping changes to place the Police and the courts under scrutiny are likely to be ushered in.

These could include an independent Police complaints body, and tape and video recording of court cases.

Jailing youngsters under 16 is also in line for abolition, along with mandatory imprisonment of traffic offenders, and corrective training.

And offences such as wandering abroad will probably be struck from the Statute Book.

In addition, there is likely to be a huge push towards expanding community service to replace imprisonment, particularly for traffic and minor drug offenders.

It could sound the death knell of the Co-Ed facility, where juveniles are locked up.

The proposals are in Judge Tumim's wide-ranging 92-page report on Bermuda's criminal justice system.

Details of the report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales were released at a Press conference yesterday.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said Government accepted the "general thrust of the report'' -- seeing it as a signpost to better times.

He said the proposals paved the way towards a "more mature society, a kinder and wiser society''.

Other key recommendations include: Video and tape recording of Police interviews of suspects.

Police developing work in the community and improving flagging public confidence, particularly among the young.

Investigation into setting up a Family Court system.

Ensuring minor drug offenders are not placed on the US `stop list' and prevented from continuing education.

A Government working party to see whether people are treated equally.

A race relations division within the Human Rights Commission.

Sir John said he believed the recommendations provided an important blueprint for the future.

He said he was not proud Bermuda had one of the highest known incarceration rates in the world, imprisoning more black males than virtually any other country.

He stressed, however, Government was not about to become soft on criminals.

A special Government committee has been formed to oversee the implementation of Judge Tumim's recommendations, said Sir John.

It will be chaired by Minister of Delegated and Legislative Affairs the Hon.

Sir John Sharpe.

Deputy chairman is Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness, and other members include Cultural Affairs Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons, Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman, Sen. Jerome Dill and Sen. Wendell Hollis.

Director of Community and Cultural Affairs Mr. Lowdru Robinson will help the committee.

Sir John said the committee would also tackle one area not adequately covered by Judge Tumim -- the "perception persons of different races and different backgrounds were treated differently by the system''.

He refused to commit Government to a time-frame for putting the recommendations in place.

But he told The Royal Gazette : "I do anticipate most of them being implemented.'' In his report, Judge Tumim highlights the deep racial tensions behind Bermuda's problems. These had only been dealt with piece meal.

"To date, there has been little concerted effort expended to cause the `institutions' in the community to change their outdated systemic patterns of behaviour.'' And he adds: "Bermuda still has a long way to go to reach the goal of racial justice, economic equity and the establishment of a criminal justice system that is accepted as fair by all residents''.

Judge Tumim says education is the key to the Country's problems.

"Many of those in Bermuda's prison facilities are either school drop-outs and/or those who did not have a positive school experience.'' He adds most black secondary students are in non-academic schools deemed low down the educational "pecking order'' -- leading to low self esteem and disrespect for authority.

Judge Tumim strongly backs moves to end the selective secondary system -- which prevents many from being admitted to Berkeley Institute or Warwick Academy.

"Although the ratio of black and white students is higher at the primary levels, `white flight' continues at the secondary level.'' Judge Tumim states many youngsters clash with the law over minor traffic violations, such as speeding.

"Attitudes of suspicion towards the Police are stimulated by the fact that Bermuda is a society beset by laws which normally law-abiding people may find hard to keep.'' He adds: "There is no doubt that the traffic laws in Bermuda are a major cause of tension between Police and the public.

"It is clear from previous reports that the auxiliary motor cycle is one of the most important possessions in life to a 16-year-old.

"Learning to ride a bike is an informal procedure, often started well before the legal age, whereby under-age youngsters borrow their friends' machines and try them out.

"This leads, inevitably, to involvement with the Police.'' Judge Tumim also stresses driving disqualifications and fines put many youngsters on a slippery slope to prison, and further crime.