Police have extra tasks covered

CAIRNS residents have been assured they are not missing out on police presence locally due to extra resources being sent to Aurukun.

Chief Superintendent Brett Schafferius said, as well as eight additional officers being deployed to Aurukun every week, 18 dedicated police and detectives within the Property Crime Squad were working full-time to tackle property crime issues.

“In the last three years, we’ve increased the numbers in our Tactical Crime Squad to 40 officers, and this was primarily to have that ability to support those communities and provide that surge number of police as is needed,” he said.

“The crimes rates in Aurukun have remained pretty Cairns’ steady over the last few years, but having the additional officers on the ground allows us to do proactive work by targeting sly grogging and other anti-social behaviours which contribute to the social fabric of that community.”

Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Curtis Pitt said he was happy with the number of police officers on the ground and resources allocated to the cape.

“Ultimately, it is up to the commissioner and other sworn officers to make those decisions,” he said.

“But in my local area … I am very happy with the response that I get when taking up matters on behalf of my constituents with the local police.”