Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith and Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott are to release a joint statement this week about the apparent U-turn in Government's stand over St. George's Police Station.

Mr. Scott told The Royal Gazette last night that he and Mr. Smith were working on the statement, and he would be “gravely disappointed” if it was not made public within the next few days.

His comments came last night after a number of community leaders in St. George's urged Government to come clean on its plans for policing in the Old Town.

UBP Senator Kim Swan said he still planned to present the 1,400-name petition to keep the Police station open in St. George's to the Premier - to ensure she fully understood how the community feels.

The community leaders said since Premier Jennifer Smith made the announcement two weeks' ago that the historic Police station would be renovated and re-opened for business, as opposed to being closed down for good, as repeatedly told by senior Government members, there has been little else said. But Mr. Scott said last night: “I'm now the Minister responsible for the physical refurbishment of the Police station and I'm getting together with the Police Commissioner to work on a joint statement.

“That is all I can say at this point. We will explain everything.”

The Royal Gazette understands that the statement will explain why members of Government were repeatedly sending out mixed messages over the future of the station, and who, indeed, had been right.

The Premier said at the Peppercorn Ceremony that it had never been Government's intention to close down the old station and move Policing of the town to the new proposed Southside station, as had been claimed by Mr. Smith, Labour and Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister and Government Senate Leader Colonel David Burch.

She said the claims that the old Police station was beyond refurbishment and so would be closed later this year were merely due to “misinformation”, which Government had chosen not to correct.

Mr. Swan asked why the Premier had not just admitted that maybe Government had made a wrong decision, and, in light of the public outcry, had decided to keep the station open instead.

He said: “I think Government needs to be more forthcoming on the details of what's going to take place. Nothing is certain yet. Government needs to explain what its plans are.

“I don't understand why the Government did not just admit that it was wrong, or that maybe the people were right. I think that's a big failing on their part.”

And Mayor of St. George's Henry Hayward said he had written to the Premier to ask for clarification on the proposals, but was still waiting to hear.

He said: “I'm concerned about the whole episode of moving the Police station to Southside without a plan in place as to what kind of Policing will remain in St. George's.

“We are looking for more information.”

The relevant authorities should have been consulted.”

And Mr. Hayward said when the Old Town applied for National Heritage Status it had to provide information on the security of the town.

He said if the situation of the Police station changed, there was a “chance” that it could lose its heritage status.

Chairman of the East End Police Consultative Committee W.A. (Toppy) Cowen, said there had been a “deathly silence” on the issue from the Premier since she made the shock announcement.

He said: “We would like more information, with regards to how many Police officers are going to be in the St. George's Police station. It seems rather confusing that there have been various contradictions from members of Government.”