St George’s has been tentatively approved to receive a police station of its own — “especially if the plans to develop the town come about”, national security minister Wayne Caines told MPs on Monday.

Addressing Parliament at the close of the Budget debate for his ministry, Mr Caines said the Commissioner of Police was “agreeable to the move of a police station to St George’s”.

However, he added: “What can’t be done is to run two separate stations at the East End.” The Olde Towne’s ageing facility shut down in 2012 after years of complaints over its condition, with Southside in St David’s as the alternative.

While there have been repeated calls to restore a permanent police presence in St George’s, Mr Caines said in October 2017 that the old station, a historically listed building, was “not suitable”.

A move back to the town could be in the cards “if a suitable building is found in St George’s and there is a legitimate demand for enhanced police services”, Mr Caines said.