Stuckey’s triple-0 blast

Southern Coast emergency calls go to NSW cops

THE triple-0 system is facing more scrutiny with a State MP fuming at Gold Coast emergency calls going to NSW cops.

Police top brass admit some emergency calls via mobile phone near the border are picked up by a NSW telecommunications tower and initially go to NSW police.

The calls are diverted to Queensland cops within a minute, police say.

But Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey claimed: “That wasn’t the case for Elanora residents who, instead of getting a swift response, were left waiting two hours after an early morning call for assistance.”

Queensland police eventually attended after residents called Policelink but the perpetrators had fled, she said.

“This was not the fault of police, rather a system failing.”

Her blast comes after it was revealed police weren’t sent to a Broadbeach domestic violence assault until 82 minutes after triple-0 were called.

An Elanora resident told the Bulletin she placed frequent emergency calls because of an out-of-control neighbour but due to the tower issue didn’t call triple-0 anymore.

“We made calls to triple-0 and were transferred to NSW. They said police will come but nobody turned up,” she said.

“We call Policelink, that’s good. Police come within 20 minutes. We don’t call triple-0 – we know it won’t work because we’re too close to NSW.”

Ms Stuckey quizzed Police Minister Mark Ryan in Parliament, asking what he was doing to improve the matter.

“Minister Mark Ryan is gambling with people’s safety when they are trying to access a lifesaving service.”

In response, Mr Ryan said the Police Commissioner advised “on occasions” mobile calls near the border were picked up by a NSW telecommunications tower.

The calls went to NSW cops but protocols sent them back to Queensland and “it generally takes less than a minute”.

“Queensland Police Service has advised there are no known specific incidents where there have been delays.”

A QPS statement said it was a “tower issue” for mobile providers and there was nothing police could do to improve where calls land: “It is an unfortunate technological issue.

“It is a very rare instance where this occurs and both the QPS and NSW police have procedures in place to cope.”

QPS advised against calling Policelink in emergencies, saying triple-0 should be called.