Police reassured the public yesterday that they would still patrol the town of St. George's despite the police station closing for renovations.

Starting January 2, at 8 a.m., the St. George's police station will be closed.

Police press officer, Dwayne Caines, said: "There has been considerable concern in that community and we would like to reassure the public, but specifically those in St George's, that there will be a police presence in the town of St George's. Police mobile patrols will continue in that area."

Mr. Caines said the new station in Southside, St. David's, would open formally on January 16 with a ceremony, though it will be in use before that.

He said: "It will be a state of the art station for the east end of the Island, from Hamilton parish to the town of St, George's.

"The police station in St. George's will be reopened once renovations are completed."

In the mean time there will be a telephone on the door of the St. George's station which will connect people to the Southside station, where someone will be on hand 24 hours a day.

The new Southside station is on Stokes Road, St. David's and is clearly marked, Mr Caines said.

The telephone number is 293-2222. Mr Caines did not know how long the renovations in St. George's would take and the spokesman for the Ministry of Works and Engineering could not be reached yesterday.