St George’s MP Kenneth Bascome has accused the Progressive Labour Party of hypocrisy after its calls to reinstate a police station in the town.

Both senator Renee Ming and MP Walter Roban have been vocal in calling on the Bermuda Government to reestablish a station in St George or bolster police presence in the town in light of a recent spate of crimes including robberies.

However, Mr Bascome pointed out that the police station in the town was closed down under a PLP administration.

The shadow minister for transport and tourism maintained that a “permanent police apparatus” was needed in the town.

“The Opposition is attempting to make hay because the Minister for National Security has stated that a police station is not the focus at present,” he said.

“My question to the PLP is why did they close the station down all that time ago?

“I continue to talk with the minister in an attempt to cause him to see the significance of putting a police apparatus in the town of St George.

“I understand that police presence and visibility is an option, however on a daily basis I am being stopped by residents in the community and asked to continue to push for a police apparatus.”

At the beginning of the month Jeff Baron, Minister of National Security, announced that the contract for expanding the island’s CCTV network to St George’s had been agreed.

However, he maintained that police presence enhanced safety as opposed to “a bricks-and-mortar structure”.

Mr Bascome added: “When I say apparatus I mean a physical building where police can go to make daily reports, have some down time, or even have their lunch. It seems hypocritical to me that the very administration that shut down the police station are now calling for it to be reestablished.”