Police defend efforts on Cape

CRIME figures in Aurukun have not dropped significantly in the past two years despite extra officers being deployed to the troubled Cape York community.

The Queensland Police Service’s crime map shows there were 730 offences committed there in the last financial year, just 11 less than the previous 12 months.

The figures have steadily risen since 2011/12 when just 491 offences were recorded.

The 1200-strong population has faced ongoing social unrest for years and the State Government took action in late 2015 following a major riot sparked by an alleged murder.

The police station now operates on a 24-hour roster, bolstered by eight extra officers who operate on a fly-in, fly-out basis from Cairns.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said this had been a “cornerstone to improving community safety” as part of a multi-agency approach.

“This was never going to be about a quick fix and it will take time for the multi-level approach and extra policing ef- fort to show any change in the hard statistics,” he said.

“We are closely monitoring the policing arrangements in Aurukun and reviewing the future needs of the community.”

Far North police Chief Superintendent Brett Schafferius attributed the negligible impact on crime statistics to more proactive policing efforts driven by extra staff.

He said these included closer monitoring of sly grogging into the dry community.

“And we haven’t seen largescale unrest that sadly has been seen in the past,” he said.

However, issues remain ongoing with a man charged earlier this month with smashing the window of a minibus belonging to the community’s PCYC and breaking the side mirror of a police car.

Internal sources say the bus had to be driven out of the community for repair, likely costing thousands of dollars.

The 21-year-old man was also allegedly found in possession of a knife.

A 30-year-old woman was arrested about a week later for allegedly throwing a rock and chipping another police car before arming herself with a metal pole.