SPENCE ANNOUNCES 29 EXTRA POLICE OFFICERS FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
Published Sunday, 10 June, 2007 at 05:00 AM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
Police Minister Judy Spence and Commissioner Bob Atkinson have announced police numbers at Indigenous communities will be boosted by 29 additional officers.
“In February the Premier and I announced that Commissioner Atkinson had decided to bring staffing levels at Kowanyama, Bamaga and Aurukun to nine officers,” Ms Spence said.
“He has now decided to do more than that, by increasing the number of police in almost every Indigenous community in Queensland”
“Police have decided Cherbourg, which currently has seven officers, doesn’t need an increase at this time as it is also serviced by police at nearby Murgon and a new police station is about to be built at Wujal Wujal, with two police officers to be stationed there.”
Details of the increased police numbers are:
FAR NORTHERN REGION
• Bamaga increased by 4 police to 10 officers.
• Aurukun, Kowanyama and Yarrabah each increased by 2 police to 10 officers.
• Hopevale, Lockhart River and Pormpuraaw will each have their number of police doubled from 2 to 4 officers.
• The staffing level of 2 officers for the soon to be constructed new Police Station at Wujal Wujal will be monitored over its first 12 months of operation. Wujal Wujal is about an hours drive from Cooktown and has a population of approximately 400.
NORTHERN REGION
• Mornington Island increased by 4 police to 10 officers.
• Doomadgee increased by 1 officer to 10 police.
CENTRAL REGION
• Woorabinda to have its police force doubled in size from 5 to 10 officers.
NORTH COAST REGION
• Murgon to get 3 more officers bringing the number of police to 22. This will also improve the 24 response capability to nearby Cherbourg.
Commissioner Atkinson said the rank of the Officer In Charge at Aurukun, Bamaga, Kowanyama, Yarrabah and Woorabinda will be upgraded from Sergeant to Senior Sergeant.
“The decision to increase the number of police and upgrade the rank of Officers In Charge follows an analysis of issues and consultation with locals and senior officers, the Queensland Police Union of Employees and visits to a number of the communities by the Police Minister and myself” Commissioner Atkinson said.
Ms Spence said the announcement of 29 additional police officers comes on top of the almost $5.0 million dollar budget commitment to fund a police aircraft for the Torres Strait and the $1.5 million budget allocation for the upgrading of CCTV infrastructure in Indigenous community watch houses by February 2008.
“Police have already welcomed our budget commitments for a plane in the Torres Strait and the installation of closed circuit digital recording equipment in all custodial areas in Indigenous community police stations,” Ms Spence said.
“I have no doubt these new police numbers will also be welcome.”
“This is a major boost to police numbers in these communities and shows the Beattie Government’s commitment to provide excellent policing services to all Queenslanders.”
Media contacts: Minister’s Office: Troy Davies - 0439 673 287
Police Media: 3015 2444
“In February the Premier and I announced that Commissioner Atkinson had decided to bring staffing levels at Kowanyama, Bamaga and Aurukun to nine officers,” Ms Spence said.
“He has now decided to do more than that, by increasing the number of police in almost every Indigenous community in Queensland”
“Police have decided Cherbourg, which currently has seven officers, doesn’t need an increase at this time as it is also serviced by police at nearby Murgon and a new police station is about to be built at Wujal Wujal, with two police officers to be stationed there.”
Details of the increased police numbers are:
FAR NORTHERN REGION
• Bamaga increased by 4 police to 10 officers.
• Aurukun, Kowanyama and Yarrabah each increased by 2 police to 10 officers.
• Hopevale, Lockhart River and Pormpuraaw will each have their number of police doubled from 2 to 4 officers.
• The staffing level of 2 officers for the soon to be constructed new Police Station at Wujal Wujal will be monitored over its first 12 months of operation. Wujal Wujal is about an hours drive from Cooktown and has a population of approximately 400.
NORTHERN REGION
• Mornington Island increased by 4 police to 10 officers.
• Doomadgee increased by 1 officer to 10 police.
CENTRAL REGION
• Woorabinda to have its police force doubled in size from 5 to 10 officers.
NORTH COAST REGION
• Murgon to get 3 more officers bringing the number of police to 22. This will also improve the 24 response capability to nearby Cherbourg.
Commissioner Atkinson said the rank of the Officer In Charge at Aurukun, Bamaga, Kowanyama, Yarrabah and Woorabinda will be upgraded from Sergeant to Senior Sergeant.
“The decision to increase the number of police and upgrade the rank of Officers In Charge follows an analysis of issues and consultation with locals and senior officers, the Queensland Police Union of Employees and visits to a number of the communities by the Police Minister and myself” Commissioner Atkinson said.
Ms Spence said the announcement of 29 additional police officers comes on top of the almost $5.0 million dollar budget commitment to fund a police aircraft for the Torres Strait and the $1.5 million budget allocation for the upgrading of CCTV infrastructure in Indigenous community watch houses by February 2008.
“Police have already welcomed our budget commitments for a plane in the Torres Strait and the installation of closed circuit digital recording equipment in all custodial areas in Indigenous community police stations,” Ms Spence said.
“I have no doubt these new police numbers will also be welcome.”
“This is a major boost to police numbers in these communities and shows the Beattie Government’s commitment to provide excellent policing services to all Queenslanders.”
Media contacts: Minister’s Office: Troy Davies - 0439 673 287
Police Media: 3015 2444