Published Wednesday, 02 August, 2006 at 05:49 PM
Minister for Police & Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
SPENCE: SUNSHINE COAST POLICE NUMBERS UP BY ALMOST 60%
Police Minister Judy Spence has revealed police officer numbers on the Sunshine Coast have increased by almost 60% since the Beattie Labor Government was elected in 1998.
Today Ms Spence travelled to the Sunshine Coast to meet with officers based in Caloundra and Maroochydore.
Ms Spence inspected the Caloundra Watchhouse which opened in August last year, and visited police working at Maroochydore police station and watchhouse.
“In the Sunshine Coast Police District, the Beattie Government has increased the number of sworn police officer positions from 263 in 1998 when we were elected, to 418 today,” Ms Spence said.
“In fact, we have increased police numbers by an extra 300 every year since 1998 when the Coalition Government in which Mr Quinn and Mr Springborg were members managed an average increase of only 200 each year.
“As we have increased police, overall crime rates have continued to fall.
“Here in the Sunshine Coast Police District, local police are achieving some good results in reducing crime.”
Ms Spence said the most recent Queensland Police Service 2004-05 Annual Statistical Review showed on the Sunshine Coast:
• Assaults decreased by 2%
• Robberies decreased by 22%
• Break and enters of houses fell 29%
• Arsons fell 16%
• Unlawful use of a motor vehicle fell 14%
• Fraud fell 20%
• Weapons Act offences fell 26%
“In addition to first response general duties policing, Sunshine Coast officers also regularly conduct operations to target drug and property offences, as well as education programs and crime prevention initiatives,” Ms Spence said.
Ms Spence said she had been keen to use today’s visit to inspect the Caloundra watchhouse.
“In the 11 months since the watchhouse opened, 72 prisoners have been held in custody in the Caloundra facility,” Ms Spence said.
“The watchhouse is designed to maximise officer safety, as there is extensive CCTV surveillance to monitor prisoners at all times, and the design limits the need for direct police/prisoner contact once a prisoner is in custody.”
Ms Spence also spoke to police at the Maroochydore Watchhouse.
“The Maroochydore Police Watchhouse is benefiting from an annual $1.5 million statewide spend by the Beattie Government on a watchhouse upgrade program,” Ms Spence said.
“Last financial year $90,000 was spent replacing 14 doors at the Maroochydore Police Watchhouse.
“This upgrade program is ongoing, and a further 13 doors with a hatch system will be replaced at this facility over the next few months.”
Ms Spence said the watchhouse upgrade program was part of a wide-ranging spend on capital works by the Beattie Government, which was helping address an historic underspend on capital works that the Beattie Government inherited from the Liberal and National Coalition when it was elected in 1998.
She said police had announced a review of watchhouse staffing and practices as a result of last month’s escape from the Maroochydore watchhouse, and she was being kept up to date on the progress of this by the Commissioner.
Media contact: Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287
Today Ms Spence travelled to the Sunshine Coast to meet with officers based in Caloundra and Maroochydore.
Ms Spence inspected the Caloundra Watchhouse which opened in August last year, and visited police working at Maroochydore police station and watchhouse.
“In the Sunshine Coast Police District, the Beattie Government has increased the number of sworn police officer positions from 263 in 1998 when we were elected, to 418 today,” Ms Spence said.
“In fact, we have increased police numbers by an extra 300 every year since 1998 when the Coalition Government in which Mr Quinn and Mr Springborg were members managed an average increase of only 200 each year.
“As we have increased police, overall crime rates have continued to fall.
“Here in the Sunshine Coast Police District, local police are achieving some good results in reducing crime.”
Ms Spence said the most recent Queensland Police Service 2004-05 Annual Statistical Review showed on the Sunshine Coast:
• Assaults decreased by 2%
• Robberies decreased by 22%
• Break and enters of houses fell 29%
• Arsons fell 16%
• Unlawful use of a motor vehicle fell 14%
• Fraud fell 20%
• Weapons Act offences fell 26%
“In addition to first response general duties policing, Sunshine Coast officers also regularly conduct operations to target drug and property offences, as well as education programs and crime prevention initiatives,” Ms Spence said.
Ms Spence said she had been keen to use today’s visit to inspect the Caloundra watchhouse.
“In the 11 months since the watchhouse opened, 72 prisoners have been held in custody in the Caloundra facility,” Ms Spence said.
“The watchhouse is designed to maximise officer safety, as there is extensive CCTV surveillance to monitor prisoners at all times, and the design limits the need for direct police/prisoner contact once a prisoner is in custody.”
Ms Spence also spoke to police at the Maroochydore Watchhouse.
“The Maroochydore Police Watchhouse is benefiting from an annual $1.5 million statewide spend by the Beattie Government on a watchhouse upgrade program,” Ms Spence said.
“Last financial year $90,000 was spent replacing 14 doors at the Maroochydore Police Watchhouse.
“This upgrade program is ongoing, and a further 13 doors with a hatch system will be replaced at this facility over the next few months.”
Ms Spence said the watchhouse upgrade program was part of a wide-ranging spend on capital works by the Beattie Government, which was helping address an historic underspend on capital works that the Beattie Government inherited from the Liberal and National Coalition when it was elected in 1998.
She said police had announced a review of watchhouse staffing and practices as a result of last month’s escape from the Maroochydore watchhouse, and she was being kept up to date on the progress of this by the Commissioner.
Media contact: Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287