LISTENING IS GOOD BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE ACTION

CAIRNS received a visit on Wednesday from state Police Minister Mark Ryan and Queensland Police Service (QPS) Commissioner Katarina Carroll. They advised Cairns residents that the service had been talking to the business community about their major concerns regarding crime and anti-social behaviours in the CBD.

Their visit comes after Cairns Post coverage of the escalating problems and as the city welcomes back more visitors with the reopening of borders.

The fact police are talking to those at the frontline is welcome news.

The duo also advised that CCTV was a major tool used in bringing offenders to justice and implored businesses and the community to register their closed-circuit television systems to be used as part of the Community Camera Alliance.

I’m not confident that alone will appease business owners and CBD residents and users.

What we don’t want to see is police being pulled from one area just to witness issues arise in another.

That’s just robbing Peter to pay Paul.

There are big social issues in our city, regardless of whether we’re talking about the CBD or suburbia, and police can’t work in isolation – other key departments need to work hand in glove around the clock with police to solve these deep issues.

They’re not race-specific by any stretch.

We need to ensure the homeless have access to services and know that drunkenness, urination, defecation, aggressive behaviour and begging can’t be tolerated.

And it goes without saying we don’t want crime in our city.

People need to feel safe and it’s good that police are “listening”.

But the proof will be in the Christmas pudding.

Jennifer Spilsbury

Editor