MP backs petition on police staffing

COOMERA MP Michael Crandon and more than 1000 community members have joined forces to fight for a new police hub and an influx of officers in the fastest-growing region in Australia.

However, the Queensland Police Service have snubbed calls to beef up the police presence in the suburb, saying there is “sufficient staff and resources”.

It comes as police union elections have caused a massive rift between senior managers and officers after a spotlight was shone on understaffing in the Gold Coast’s northern suburbs.

Mr Crandon provided data showing calls for service in Coomera jumped 57 per cent in the nine months to February 28.

He supported a petition to Queensland Parliament by Coomera’s Jennifer May (Police Hub for Ormeau/ Pimpama Region), which calls for the hub and 35 more officers. More than 1000 people have already signed the petition.

Mr Crandon said he was concerned police did not have the numbers to respond adequately in his electorate.

“People are talking to me about police taking several hours (to arrive at crime scenes),” he said.

“It’s not because they don’t want to be there, it’s because they have shortfalls in the number of police on duty and, of course, they have to prioritise those calls.

“If a domestic violence issue is happening, or some bikie gang bar fight is going on – because they happen regularly up here as well – then obviously they have to take priority over a break and enter.”

Mr Crandon said the Coomera police division covered more than 500sq km.

Stay-at-home-dad Stewart Brooker said the State Government had ignored the issue for far too long.

“To put it in context, there are 25,000 people in Pimpama/Ormeau. For that many people there should be around 50 police officers in that area. Currently there is one,” he said.

“In the area that Coomera station covers there are 128,000 people so it should be staffed with around 250 officers. There are only 70. There seems to be a real lack of planning the suburbs.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan said he would consider the petition and directed questions to Queensland Police.

In a statement, Queensland Police said the division has a “24-hour police presence” and 10 full-time officers were reallocated to Coomera last year “to meet growing demand”.

Police said resources on the Gold Coast could be shifted around as needed, assisted by a tasking and coordination centre which opened in October 2017.