The Governor says the Government has knocked back his offer for more regular discussions on policing Bermuda.

Sir Richard Gozney spoke out in the aftermath of another complaint from Premier Ewart Brown that he wants Government to have operational control of the Police service.

At present, Sir Richard has oversight of policing on the Island, with operational control delegated to Commissioner of Police George Jackson.

The arrangement has long been a thorny one, and Dr. Brown has repeatedly called on Government House to cede control of the service.

In a national television address last week he brought up the topic again, stating: "I now speak for Cabinet and all of Government when I state that we are deeply frustrated with the current approach to tackling crime.

"Constitutionally, we are hamstrung. We control the purse strings but have little or no say in how the fight is managed."

He said he'd raised the matter with the UK Government during his visit there earlier this month.

However, the Governor responded this weekend by saying that the status quo will remain unchanged and reporting that his offer of a closer working relationship has yet to be taken up.

He said: "Operational control of the Bermuda Police Service needs to rest with the Commissioner of Police.

"That is the practice in the United Kingdom and that is the practice which we should follow here. In other words it is for the Commissioner and his senior officers to take decisions about operations, not for Government House, nor for Government nor for others.

"Of course the issue goes wider than operational control, to cover oversight of the Police, including setting priorities for the Police and helping the Police to explain to the public what they are doing, where they are successful and where they need more help from the community.

"Oversight of the Police rests with Government House and will continue to do so. Neither the British Government nor Government House are contemplating a change."

He continued: "Sitting down with Government Ministers and the Police leadership to discuss and to agree on priorities for the Police, the Bermuda Police Service's approach to policing and how the Police can best explain themselves to the rest of Bermuda is something I am keen to do more often.

"At present it tends to happen after a shooting or after a fracas and not on the regular basis which I would like to see.

"I have proposed a forum for such regular discussions which would seek to reach agreement between Government House, Government and the Police.

"So far the Bermuda Government have declined to take up the proposal. It remains on the table."

Asked about the issue, Dr. Brown's press secretary Arnold Minors said last night: "The Government is firmly committed to assuring that its budget responsibilities are consistent with its management and public accountability for policing. Further, it is critical that the government have responsibility for policing in a way that meets the needs of Bermuda."

A request for comment from the Police Commissioner had not elicited a response by press time.