Government inaction has lead to Police staff shortages which make it difficult to effectively attack crime, Opposition Senator Kim Swan charged yesterday.

He said the Police Service became depleted after Government failed to make a quick decision on whether to bring in overseas officers three years ago.

"Government could not bring itself to make a decision," he said. "While they grappled with that decision the Police Service became undermanned."

Finally Government elected to bring some officers in on a secondment basis, he said, but the Police numbers are not where they should be, particularly in St. George's.

Government Senate leader Lt. Col. David Burch interjected to challenge Sen. Swan's version of history however.

He said that staff shortages within the Police Service stemmed from a UBP Government decision to reduce the Service by 55 officers.

But Sen. Swan continued highlighted the ongoing problem of lack of Policing in St. George's.

He said concern citizens aren't even supposed to ask about St. George's policing anymore according to Sen. Burch, until the Police Commissioner decides how to deal with it.

"The short-sightedness of Government in this regard is playing itself out yet again," he said later. "How can we embrace community policing without any Police in the community?"

Sen. Swan - who's home was recently broken into - said the cost of such crime to a community's sense of security is very high.

"Many in this community are very insecure in their own homes," he said. "It is no fun to be in one's house after it has been burglarised."

He suggested that Government consider increasing penalties to burglars who enter the bedroom of private residences when they break in.

He suggested the bedroom could be made a "no go" zone, similar to the approach currently taken in the courts to drug offences which take place near schools or churches.

Sen. Swan said criminals who enter the bedroom might end up assaulting someone even if that had not been their original intent.

Establishing the bedroom as a "no-go" zone would encourage them to think twice about entering.

He accused Government of being soft on crime while refusing to make important decisions about law enforcement.

Meanwhile, while the community feels unsafe, Government continued to enjoy its "cocktail circuit," he said.