Replacement police chopper for Gold Coast

Gold Coast residents and visitors will soon notice a new presence in the sky with a replacement police helicopter taking to the air, Premier Campbell Newman and Police Minister Jack Dempsey announced today.

Mr Newman said the helicopter was a part of the ongoing contract between the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Surf Lifesaving Queensland (SLSQ) to provide police helicopter support in the region.

“The replacement helicopter, which is the same model as its predecessor, has been purchased by SLSQ for the sole use of the QPS,” Mr Newman said.

“Since the contract began in November last year, the helicopter has already proven valuable to police, completing more than 2,200 taskings as well as heading to Bundaberg to help during the January floods.

“The State Government is committed to reducing crime across the state and is already looking at providing a second police helicopter for south east Queensland by 2014/15.”

Mr Dempsey said the helicopter was one of many tools police were using to combat crime in the South East Region.

“The replacement helicopter means police will have a presence in the sky when it is needed,” Mr Dempsey said.

“Since the contract started, the helicopter has been of great help to police on the ground, including on 15 June 2013 when the chopper team tracked a woman who had fled from a stolen vehicle in Eagleby.

“The helicopter crew was able to guide officers on the ground to her location and the woman was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

“The police chopper is just a part of the State Government’s commitment to ensuring police in the South East Region have the resources needed.

“An additional 10 officers were added to the Major and Organised Crime Squad in 2012 and more than 130 police officers have been allocated to the South East Region since April 2012.”

SLSQ Chief Executive Officer John Brennan supports the continued partnership which is providing increased services to the Gold Coast.

“Surf Life Saving Queensland is fully committed to giving the QPS a world class police helicopter service for the Gold Coast,” Mr Brennan said.

“With more than 37 years of experience patrolling our beaches from the sky and providing the State Disaster Management Group with emergency response assistance, SLSQ’s expertise in aviation rescue and surveillance across the state’s south east can only benefit the region.”

QPS Commissioner Ian Stewart said the replacement helicopter had new livery in police colours to provide greater visual recognition as a police asset.

“The helicopter provides and will continue to provide an effective aerial observation platform to police on the ground,” Commissioner Stewart said.

“It supports a range of contemporary policing functions such as searches for offenders and missing persons, drug crop identification, and major event and traffic management.

“The chopper will remain based at Westpac’s Carrara base which has been operating rescue helicopters for more than 37 years.

“I’m pleased that operational flights start from today and we look forward to continuing working with the crew at Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Rescue Service.”

[ENDS] 7 August 2013

Media contacts: Andrew Blow (Premier) 0408 912 821
                              Lea Emery (Minister Dempsey) 0417 226 114 or Danny Donald 0439 716 116