The Government and Governor are working "in unison" to tackle gun crime on the Island, despite a difference in opinion over who should have operational control over policing.

Premier Ewart Brown told a press conference yesterday he was pleased with the initiatives Sir Richard Gozney has implemented.

"We are closer to being on the same page than ever before," he said.

The press conference addressed the Island's most recent killing. Nine days ago 30-year-old Kumi Harford was gunned down only minutes from his St. Monica's Road, Pembroke home. The murder took place while Dr. Brown and Sir Richard were in London at the Overseas Territories Consultative Council meeting.

Two statements were released soon after the shooting.

The first was a joint statement the men said they were working well together to combat the shocking rise in gun crime. The second was issued less than an hour later by Dr. Brown. The Premier repeated his demand for control over the Police and said he was "pleading" with Government House to establish new policing strategies. He mentioned stepping up patrols and bringing in overseas experts to assist — two things the Governor said were already being done.

Asked yesterday about the conflicting statements, Dr. Brown said: "We are closer in terms of working in unison than we have ever been."

The Premier said he and Sir Richard talked while in London and the joint press conference illustrated they were working together.

"If I was being malicious in my intention I wouldn't be here today. The first press release was prepared before [the joint one] but released after it."

He said it had come down to timing.

"There has never been an instance where the Governor wanted to talk and we did not," he said.

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

Dr. Brown has repeatedly called on Government House to cede control to Government.

Yesterday he said he maintained that view but the important thing was that the two were working together.

In last week's statement, Dr. Brown said he thought Government House could be doing more with regard to policing initiatives.

Yesterday he said he was pleased with the initiatives the Governor had taken. FBI experts and Police from Florida and the West Midlands in the UK are to help train local officers in the coming months, and Police have stepped up patrols across the Island.

The Premier also said he and Sir Richard were both happy with the community response to last week's murder.

"Community action is important to both of us, without that all of our legislation is useless."

Sir Richard added he was particularly impressed by the efforts of 'We Will Rise Above, Bermuda'.

The group was formed the day after Mr. Harford's December 6 murder. Its plan is to make a stand against escalating gang violence through a month-long challenge embracing 30 direct actions under the umbrellas of community, youth, faith, gang intervention and mentoring.

"The Police need the support of the community and that is coming," Sir Richard said. "They have been getting [information on Mr. Harford's murder] directly and through intermediaries."

Sir Richard added that arrests were up 60 percent compared to last year, with recent convictions against drug and gun smugglers illustrating Police were doing their job.