LNP have short memory when it comes to community safety campaigns

Police Minister Bill Byrne said the LNP’s hypocritical stance on a very successful Queensland Police community awareness campaign is shameful. 

“Campaigns such as the successful Lock it or Lose it initiative which aims to educate members of the community on the importance of locking up their homes and vehicles to avoid opportunistic crime, have been running in Queensland for decades” Minister Byrne said.

“The LNP have a very short memory. Under the LNP, in 2013 and in 2014 the Lock it or Lose it campaign was rolled out right across the State, including Townsville.

“In fact in March 2014 the former LNP Member for Cairns Gavin King publicly stated ‘Offenders are literally walking around for hours, walking past cars, seeing what’s on the front seat and seeing what cars are unlocked.’

“The former member went on to say ‘We can have a significant reduction in this type of opportunities crime, if people were to think about security before they leave their cars.’

“The message has not changed and it is incredible that the opposition have decided to politicise a Queensland Police Service program that has a proven track record of success.

“As I have previously stated, the fight against crime is one that lies with all of us.

“Police are working hard to keep our communities safe, but we also need to do our part.

“The new initiative in Townsville to utilise police recruits to continue to raise awareness of the “lock it or lose it campaign” is the first of its kind across the State.

“The utilisation of police recruits means our operational police are able to continue to focus on keeping our streets safe while the recruits raise awareness of the importance of locking up.

“This is an initiative that should be supported.”

Minister Byrne said he had also met with the Police Commissioner in relation to the 30 additional police officers for Townsville, which was announced earlier today by the Palaszczuk Government.

“As I have previously said, our job is to ensure police have the resources available to ensure the safety of our communities.

“The people of Townsville and Thuringowa should be proud of the hard work and dedication of their local state members and their continual focus on ensuring the reduction of crime in their communities”

ENDS

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