Calls for hospital cop beat

A CAMPAIGN is being ramped up for a permanent police beat to protect the health and knowledge precinct once the athletes leave the Games Village.

GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie in August 2016 promised a police beat would be established for the village and a temporary cop shop has been created for the event.

Opposition frontbencher Ros Bates, a registered nurse, is lobbying for a permanent police presence to be set up at the hospital, continuing a push from November 2015 when she launched a petition for a permanent police beat after hospital staff spoke out about security concerns.

Ms Bates was supported in a Bulletin campaign.

“It’s a perfect opportunity to put in a permanent police beat. It’s nowhere to be found,” Ms Bates said yesterday.

A police source said the Government stalling on a permanent police beat was a sign of tougher budgeting.

“It’s all budgetary. They’re going the opposite way (by reducing spending),” the police source said.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the Government had ensured Queensland had the biggest security contingent ever deployed to keep locals, athletes and visitors safe.

However Bonney MP Sam O’Connor is disappointed by the lack of progress.

“(It) could have been a real legacy of the Games,” he said.