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Mr Waterworth noted that similar legislation had also been recently
introduced in Gibraltar.
c) security and staffing
11. Mr Cook asked whether there were plans to establish Drugs
Liaison Officers in the Dependent Territories. The presence of a
DLO enhanced the potential security threat to a post. Mr Knott knew
of no plans. There were more pressing calls for the placement of
DLOS in countries which were sources of drugs flowing into Europe eg
Ecuador, Peru. Mr January welcomed Mr Cook's concerns at potential
threat enhancement in the light of Security Department's stance
date that they had no responsibility to inspect DT posts.
The drugs
issue gave a new dimension to post security.
12. Mr Mills raised the difficulties ODA encountered in recruiting
high quality police and customs officers to fill TC posts. UK
police forces and Customs and Excise were proving reluctant release good officers. BVI's successes in drugs seizures were after
all a direct reflection of the high calibre of the UK officers.
backing the customs and police officers involved. He pointed out
the cost-effectiveness of TCOs compared to the expense of MOD
involvement. The maximum annual cost of a TCO would be £75,000, the
equivalent of two hours steaming time for a frigate.
Human Rights Issues
13. Mr Broom reported that we had made no further progress since the September meeting in securing the abolition of judicial corporal punishment in the four DTS where it was still on the statute books.
However, UND did not wish to put further pressure on Governors at this stage for fear of inspiring a backlash on the capital punishment issue. Mr January noted that on capital punishment we awaited the outcome on the meeting called by the Secretary of State
on 8 February. This was no longer an issue which was topical solely in the context of Bermuda: cases of premeditated murder were currently pending in Anguilla, Cayman Islands and TCI too. Mr Broom also noted that Sir John Freeland had begun work on his consultancy
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