Spence: New Stuart Police Station helping police and community fight crime
Published Friday, 01 August, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
The new $5.5 Million Stuart Police Station is proving a welcome boost to local police in their efforts to work with the community to fight crime.
Officially opening the new station today, Police Minister Judy Spence said: “The people of the Stuart community have shown a great commitment to working with police to prevent and solve crime.
“Police tell me that since the new Stuart Police Station opened its doors, counter inquiries have increased by 300%, with members of the local community eager to work with their local officers.
“By providing police with a new station in a highly visible location that is easy for public to access, the station is proving a great asset not just for police but for the whole community.
“This government has spent more than $5.5 Million to deliver this station, which we promised at the 2006 election.
“I’m pleased to see this solid investment in policing at Stuart is allowing local police to better serve the people of this area.
“Stuart police place a strong emphasis on community partnerships, with officers volunteering as Adopt-A-Cops in every one of Stuart’s nine schools.
“This is a great example of how police in this area are working with all members of the public to build a safer community.”
Ms Spence said the new station houses almost 40 officers and administration staff, including general duties and traffic branch police.
“The old station was 36 years old and originally built to accommodate six officers.
“As police numbers at Stuart have more than doubled in the past 5 years, the previous station was definitely in need of replacement.
“The opening of this new facility represents this government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the needs of regional communities are being met.
“The positioning of the new station on a main arterial road connecting to the Flinders and Bruce Highways is also ideal for traffic branch officers working from this location – who conduct regular traffic operations and random breath testing blitzes along the busy stretch of highway.”
Ms Spence said the new station incorporates state-of-the-art security and surveillance technology, including digital CCTV coverage of the two holding cells and monitoring systems both inside and outside the station.
Police operate out of the station 24 hours a day, with counter service available Monday to Friday between 8am-4pm. An emergency 24-hour Blue Phone is installed near the entrance to provide a direct line to the Townsville Communications Centre for times when police are out on patrol.
Media Contact: Minister’s Office: 3239 6172 Police Media: 3015 2444
Officially opening the new station today, Police Minister Judy Spence said: “The people of the Stuart community have shown a great commitment to working with police to prevent and solve crime.
“Police tell me that since the new Stuart Police Station opened its doors, counter inquiries have increased by 300%, with members of the local community eager to work with their local officers.
“By providing police with a new station in a highly visible location that is easy for public to access, the station is proving a great asset not just for police but for the whole community.
“This government has spent more than $5.5 Million to deliver this station, which we promised at the 2006 election.
“I’m pleased to see this solid investment in policing at Stuart is allowing local police to better serve the people of this area.
“Stuart police place a strong emphasis on community partnerships, with officers volunteering as Adopt-A-Cops in every one of Stuart’s nine schools.
“This is a great example of how police in this area are working with all members of the public to build a safer community.”
Ms Spence said the new station houses almost 40 officers and administration staff, including general duties and traffic branch police.
“The old station was 36 years old and originally built to accommodate six officers.
“As police numbers at Stuart have more than doubled in the past 5 years, the previous station was definitely in need of replacement.
“The opening of this new facility represents this government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the needs of regional communities are being met.
“The positioning of the new station on a main arterial road connecting to the Flinders and Bruce Highways is also ideal for traffic branch officers working from this location – who conduct regular traffic operations and random breath testing blitzes along the busy stretch of highway.”
Ms Spence said the new station incorporates state-of-the-art security and surveillance technology, including digital CCTV coverage of the two holding cells and monitoring systems both inside and outside the station.
Police operate out of the station 24 hours a day, with counter service available Monday to Friday between 8am-4pm. An emergency 24-hour Blue Phone is installed near the entrance to provide a direct line to the Townsville Communications Centre for times when police are out on patrol.
Media Contact: Minister’s Office: 3239 6172 Police Media: 3015 2444