Officers have begun foot patrols in the Olde Towne as part of a pumped up police presence.

This morning, three uniformed Community Action Team officers were visible in the Kings Square area.

Senator Jeff Baron, Minister of National Security, said he had been made aware that the officers are essentially dedicated to the town for foot patrols “on a regular basis”.

“This is not a drive by, wave, and then go back to St David’s [thing],” he said.

The officers will address quality of life issues, as well as provide services to both locals and visitors alike, he said.

“Security is both a feeling and it’s a reality,” the senator said.

“We have to appreciate that while St George’s remains statistically quite safe when compared to other parishes, the fact remains that there are stakeholders, shop owners, and residents here who — as a result of some of the recent incidents in St George’s — are feeling that there has been an uptick in crime.”

Insecurities, he said, can creep in as a result, necessitating the need for both “realistic and tangible” solutions.

In some cases simple measures can have a big impact, Mr Baron said.

He pointed to how the recent removal of benches from outside the public restrooms in the square had displaced some “antisocial behaviour”.

Addressing lighting issues in the town was another area that could be addressed, he said.

A spate of crimes in the East End this month has renewed questions over safety in the parish, as well as renewed calls by some for a larger law enforcement contingent and the installation of promised CCTV cameras, from politicians and members of the public alike.

Police and the service provider are “energetically” working on the CCTV matter, the senator said.

A timeframe for the possible installation of the technology and bringing the system up online was a question best posed to other parties.

“At a government level, we provide the funding and the direction, which we’ve done,” Mr Baron said.

“And so now it’s really up to those level pullers — the police and the identified company — to make it happen.”

The recent criminal incidents, he said, should not deter anyone from visiting “one of the gems of Bermuda”.

“There’s absolutely nothing to be concerned about,” the senator said.

“It’s safe, the people here are amazing. And whether you are coming down here to eat, to walk around, during daylight hours or in the evening, St George’s is a phenomenal place.”