Published Wednesday, 22 November, 2006 at 02:30 PM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
$10.8 MILLION GYMPIE POLICE STATION BOOSTS FIGHT AGAINST CRIME
Policing in Gympie has received a $10.8 million boost with Police Minister Judy Spence and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson today officially opening the new Gympie Police Station.
Ms Spence said the new Channon Street complex, which opened its doors last month, was already providing a stronger police presence in the local community.
“The new Gympie Police Station is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and has been designed to better meet the needs of modern day policing,” Ms Spence said.
“It is a much larger, more modern and updated facility than the previous station, which was built in the 1940s.
“Gympie police now have equipment such as a holding cell, an interview room with electronic recording facilities, charge area, a secure front counter and storage for exhibits.
“Police are better supported in their fight against crime with closed-circuit television monitoring of the entire complex and state-of-the-art fingerprint technology.
“The new station has also made it possible for police to employ an extra seven civilian radio operators, which is helping streamline the entire communications network and improve message-handling.”
Ms Spence said the old station had become overcrowded due to increasing police numbers.
“The Beattie Government has funded more police officers than any other government in Queensland’s history,” Ms Spence said.
“Eight years ago when we were first elected there was 6,800 police. We have increased this to more than 9,200 today, and this year we are funding 770 recruits through the academy.
“On the North Coast Region, the Beattie Government has increased police numbers from 805 when we were first elected in 1998, to 1,230 today – an increase of 35%.”
Ms Spence said the state government has increased its capital works spend on policing infrastructure to cater for the growth.
“This new facility has also been designed for even more growth in the future and as it has the capacity to accommodate up to 120 police and administration staff,” Ms Spence said.
Ms Spence said she was committed to working with the Queensland Police Union of Employees to ensure police were adequately equipped to fight crime, and to ensure police officer numbers continued to increase to keep pace with population growth.
“We have made it a priority to provide police with the infrastructure they need to improve community safety and reduce crime,” Ms Spence said.
“Here in the North Coast police region, local police have achieved some very good results in the past financial year, such as a 13 percent drop in unlawful entry offences and an 11 percent drop in arson offences.”
Ms Spence said the new Gympie Police Station was part of a five year, $26 million spend by the state government on capital works for police in the area.
“As well as the $10.8 million Gympie Station, we are building new police stations in Burpengary, Caboolture and Woodford and a new water police facility in Kawana,” Ms Spence said.
“This is in addition to the new police stations and neighbourhood police beats we have funded in the past 18 months in Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay, Coolum, Pomona and Tewantin, as well as significant upgrades to the Nambour station.”
Media contact – Sarah Martin 3239 6172 / 0408 732 491
Ms Spence said the new Channon Street complex, which opened its doors last month, was already providing a stronger police presence in the local community.
“The new Gympie Police Station is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and has been designed to better meet the needs of modern day policing,” Ms Spence said.
“It is a much larger, more modern and updated facility than the previous station, which was built in the 1940s.
“Gympie police now have equipment such as a holding cell, an interview room with electronic recording facilities, charge area, a secure front counter and storage for exhibits.
“Police are better supported in their fight against crime with closed-circuit television monitoring of the entire complex and state-of-the-art fingerprint technology.
“The new station has also made it possible for police to employ an extra seven civilian radio operators, which is helping streamline the entire communications network and improve message-handling.”
Ms Spence said the old station had become overcrowded due to increasing police numbers.
“The Beattie Government has funded more police officers than any other government in Queensland’s history,” Ms Spence said.
“Eight years ago when we were first elected there was 6,800 police. We have increased this to more than 9,200 today, and this year we are funding 770 recruits through the academy.
“On the North Coast Region, the Beattie Government has increased police numbers from 805 when we were first elected in 1998, to 1,230 today – an increase of 35%.”
Ms Spence said the state government has increased its capital works spend on policing infrastructure to cater for the growth.
“This new facility has also been designed for even more growth in the future and as it has the capacity to accommodate up to 120 police and administration staff,” Ms Spence said.
Ms Spence said she was committed to working with the Queensland Police Union of Employees to ensure police were adequately equipped to fight crime, and to ensure police officer numbers continued to increase to keep pace with population growth.
“We have made it a priority to provide police with the infrastructure they need to improve community safety and reduce crime,” Ms Spence said.
“Here in the North Coast police region, local police have achieved some very good results in the past financial year, such as a 13 percent drop in unlawful entry offences and an 11 percent drop in arson offences.”
Ms Spence said the new Gympie Police Station was part of a five year, $26 million spend by the state government on capital works for police in the area.
“As well as the $10.8 million Gympie Station, we are building new police stations in Burpengary, Caboolture and Woodford and a new water police facility in Kawana,” Ms Spence said.
“This is in addition to the new police stations and neighbourhood police beats we have funded in the past 18 months in Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay, Coolum, Pomona and Tewantin, as well as significant upgrades to the Nambour station.”
Media contact – Sarah Martin 3239 6172 / 0408 732 491