Police recruits and prisoners assist with storm clean-up

A force of more than 60 police recruits and 20 low-level security prisoners will tomorrow boost the storm clean-up effort.

Minister for Police and Corrective Services Judy Spence said: “Today I have approved the deployment of police recruits and also selected low-level security prisoners to assist with storm clean-up work.

“An initial group of 22 police recruits joined in cleaning up the storm aftermath today.

“Tomorrow there will be a further 40 police recruits and a detail of 15 low-level security prisoners plus three supervisors from the Darling Downs who will pitch in to do the work that is required.

“It is also planned that a number of female prisoners will assist with catering arrangements for those who are involved in clean-up duties.

“The damage caused by this storm has required the allocation of resources from across a number of areas to make sure that urgent work can be done.

“Police are involved in a whole range of activities associated with the effects of the storm, so we have called upon the assistance of the police recruits to provide the help that is needed.

“Similarly, with our low-level security prisoners, this is the kind of community work that is useful for them to be involved in so they too can help with the community response.”

Ms Spence said the police recruits in the field today had been deployed to the SES Windsor depot, and had assisted with the clean-up of vegetation and debris around fallen powerlines.

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