NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE BEAT BOOSTS SAFETY IN EAGLEBY

Eagleby residents can look forward to improved community safety with the new $615,000 neighbourhood police beat now officially open for business.

Police Minister Judy Spence today joined Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson and the Member for Albert, Margaret Keech, in a special ceremony with local council members, residents and police to open the new beat.

Ms Spence said the new facility on Fryar Road will bolster local policing services.

“Locals had asked for a new site with increased hours of operation that better meets the community’s demands for service,” Ms Spence said.

“We have moved the beat out of the shopping centre and into the community, which means police can now provide a better service to the community with more flexible operating hours.

“In this new location, the beat is open until midnight 7 days a week.

“This is a vast improvement on the previous site at the shopping centre, where the beat’s operating hours – and community access to police – was restricted by the centre’s hours of operation.”

Mrs Keech said the site is well situated in the heart of the beat area, is readily accessible to the community, and is close to local schools and businesses.

“It has also allowed the Police Service to double the number of police that service the beat area, from four to eight officers,” Mrs Keech said.

“The building has more facilities for police, such as an interview room, a single cell, disabled access and visitor parking.

“It is also equipped with a marked police vehicle to conduct high visibility patrols, as well as a blue phone for after hours emergencies.”

During the ceremony, Mrs Keech welcomed Officer in Charge Sergeant Les Stonestreet and his team to their new facility in the heart of Eagleby.

“Sergeant Stonestreet has spent years working in the local area and he knows what the community needs,” Mrs Keech said.

“With his staff he’s doing an excellent job fostering relationships with the community and developing crime prevention and education campaigns.”

Mrs Keech said the new beat was part of a recent $1.85 million spend by the Beattie Government to boost police infrastructure on the northern Gold Coast – including new police beats in Eagleby, Jacob’s Well and one soon to be opened in Norfolk Village.

“Funding for the Eagleby police beat was provided by the Department of Housing as part of the Beattie Government’s Community Renewal Program,” she said.

“The Community Renewal Program has also been responsible for the construction of the Eagleby Youth Space, two computer homework centres at the local primary school and an internet centre in the Eagleby shopping centre.

“It has also provided for training programs for people with disabilities, their carers and the wider community.”

Mrs Keech also thanked the Gold Coast City Council for leasing the land to the Queensland Police Service for the new facility.

Media contact – Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287