The Opposition last night accused Government of failing to fulfil its election pledge to reopen St. George's Police Station — as it was claimed that renovation work has still not begun on the building.

Opposition Leader Kim Swan said a recent spate of burglaries in the old town had left residents fed up and "underlined the continuing failure of the Government to live up to its pre-election promise".

The dilapidated, termite-infested station closed on January 2, 2007 for safety reasons and Police are understood to be operating from a temporary office above St. George's Post Office.

In the run-up to last December's General Election, both parties pledged to make reopening the facility a priority if they were voted into power.

In April this year, Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess said the station would be ready to reopen in four to five months after a $500,000 renovation was carried out.

But St. George's Mayor Mariea Caisey told The Royal Gazette on Friday that planning approval had only just been granted for the scheme and work was yet to start.

She said: "It had to go to planning first. The first time it went to planning it was not approved because there were a lot of problems with the building like the windows and other issues. The plans have just been passed by (the) preservation authority on Thursday."

Mr. Swan, MP for St. George's West, said yesterday that residents of St. George's continued to live without an adequate law and order presence on the streets.

"Many residents are fed up with the situation, which has been put into sharp relief by a series of break-ins at retail and other commercial properties, including Hannibal Lodge, the Corporation of St. George's main office, the Sung Sing Restaurant, the St. George's mini bus office, Boyles shoe store, the ACE shop on the Square and the laundromat on Shinbone Alley," he said.

"Without an adequate Police presence on a continuing basis the criminal element will continue to feel it can continue its work without risk or fear of getting caught.

"The brazen nature of some of the break-ins and their frequency suggest criminals feel they can operate with impunity. Indeed, we feel the absence of the Police is empowering them."

He said a fully operational Police station with a dedicated chief inspector, sergeants and officers was what was needed and that the prolonged delay over the restoration "demonstrates outright negligence on the part of the Government".

"The Government should have one overriding priority when it comes to St. George's and it is: open the St. George's Police Station now."

In the meantime, Mr. Swan said, Police Commissioner George Jackson needed to either properly staff the temporary office on a daily basis or provide a suitably staffed mobile response unit.

Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess said he would provide an update on plans for the station today (Monday). Public Safety Minister David Burch did not respond to a request for comment.

A Police spokesman said last night it was not possible to get a response from the Commissioner.