POLICING BOOST FOR GOLD COAST – 40 NEW OFFICERS

The Gold Coast will receive a large injection of new police officers this year – with an extra allocation of at least 40 new police by the end of the year – the majority to Surfers Paradise.

Police Minister Judy Spence said Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson had decided to increase existing numbers with additional officers who will be general duties police.

Ms Spence said the announcement follows concerns about staffing levels on the Gold Coast raised by the Queensland Police Union of Employees and ongoing evaluation by the Queensland Police Service.

“The Gold Coast has unique policing demands on its officers, due largely to the high rate of nightshift, transient tourist population and night-time attractions in the Surfers Paradise area in particular,” Ms Spence said.

“The police union has raised these issues in the past, and yesterday the Police Commissioner and I met with QPUE President Gary Wilkinson to further discuss these concerns.

“Mr Atkinson has outlined his plan to the union to provide a minimum of 40 extra police to the South East Region – to the Gold Coast and Logan Districts - by the end of December.

“While this announcement of a staffing increase is earlier than usual, the Commissioner has opted to do so in recognition of specific needs in the region.

“These minimum extra 40 positions will almost double the allocation of 23 additional officers to the region during the 2005/06 financial year.”

Ms Spence said the extra officers would be a minimum of 40, as there will be further additional officers allocated to other areas of the South Eastern Region later in the year.

“Mr Atkinson is yet to determine those numbers and locations,” Ms Spence said.

“He has advised that a further 15 new officers will also be posted to the South Eastern Region on March 7 from the next recruit graduation.

“As well, he will ensure that as new recruits are sent to the region they will be asked to remain there after completing their initial on-the-job training programs.”

Mr Wilkinson said: “We have been working together with the Police Commissioner and the Minister to look at these matters on the Gold Coast and for ways to address them.

“I am glad to see this announcement as it is a good result for local officers, and should relieve some of the pressures they have been working under.”

Ms Spence said she had made policing on the Gold Coast a priority as Police Minister.

“Over the past three years the Beattie Government’s record budgets for police have enabled the Queensland Police Service to spend $12.63 million on police capital works on the Gold Coast, including plans for a new police district in Coomera, the $5.3 million Southport Police Station, and new police beats at Arundel, Biggera Waters, Jacobs Well, Edens Landing and Pacific Pines,” Ms Spence said.

“Police are also very close to securing a new location for the Surfers Paradise police beat.

“Since the Beattie Government was elected eight years ago, we have continued to increase funding for police numbers and as a result police officer positions in the South Eastern Region have increased from 862 to 1216.”

Media contact – Alison Smith 3239 6218