Police skip Origin beat
Cops missing from Surfers for party pumper
SURFERS Paradise had no police on the beat the night the party precinct was pumping to Queensland’s epic win in the State of Origin decider.
The Bulletin can reveal only two officers were based in the Surfers police station and two car crews were out on the road last Wednesday night.
Staffing should have been similar to Friday and Saturday nights where four teams of four officers are on the street and four patrol cars cover the party precinct. “No officers were working the beat at all (on Origin night),” a police source said.
“Urgent jobs could not be attended and there are serious concerns of officer safety within the busiest drink safe precinct in the state.
“This is not isolated. It is due to the decision by senior management to move 13 officers from Surfers to Coomera.
“Fatigue and sick leave for officers at Surfers is on the rise and officers are working more nights and weekends to cover for these 13 officers plus the 15 vacancies and police seconded to other areas.”
Staff problems in Surfers Paradise comes amid data showing an increase in crime and a net decrease of more than 90 full-time positions at Queensland Police.
In the March quarter, the public service grew by more than 3000 full-time employees.
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said: “We are investigating and closely monitoring many issues surrounding staffing and allegations about management practices across the Gold Coast and the entire South Eastern Police Region”.
The QPS said Coast District managers were satisfied sufficient officers were rostered on Origin night and throughout the district. “There are currently no indications that fatigue and sick leave at Surfers Paradise Police Station has increased,” the spokesman said.
The flexible district rostering approach was having a significant positive impact on policing in Coomera division, the spokesman added.
“This arrangement is being continually monitored with the aim of having the right people in the right place at the right time across the district.”
In April, the Bulletin reported police took about 90 minutes to respond to a domestic violence triple-0 call near central Broadbeach.
The incident sparked a row about police numbers with Opposition spokesman Tim Mander calling on the Government to boost resources. Acting Police Commissioner Peter Martin ruled out asking for more officers, despite top Gold Coast cop Brian Codd admitting he could adequately use 100 extra cops.
About 80 of the allocated 128 staff at Surfers are working. The rest are on leave, sick or helping at other stations.