REVVED UP PURSUIT OF CRIMS
KIRWAN Police Station is going full throttle with a new initiative at Riverway set to crack down on crime around the popular precinct.
Operation Exert began yesterday and will see police team up with Townsville City Council, security patrols and camera monitoring to make the area safer.
More police will be tasked to the popular outdoor area during their shifts.
Operation Exert will focus on parks and gardens within the Kirwan division, also targeting school zones, carparks and shopping centres from the Riverway area to Kelso.
The weekly patrols of the allocated areas within the Kirwan Division will focus on the commonly populated destinations that regularly patrolled.
Acting Senior Sergeant Bradley Lemmon said he had been trying to get the project under way for some time.
“This is an initiative in crime prevention to assist in reducing criminal behaviour within the Kirwan division,” he said.
The project finally got the go- ahead this week after the station was allocated two patrol bikes for the project.
“The motorbikes are are not going to be a massive help for us as we can have access to areas where we haven’t been before,” Sgt Lemmon said.
“They will allow for heavier police presence saturate areas of concern.
“We are aiming to provide a better service to the community with improved infrastructure and information services and by building a rapport and sustaining positive relationships with community groups.”
Sgt Lemmon said he would like for the community to approach the officers on duty when necessary with any questions or concerns they may have regarding the areas being covered.
“We are more than happy to liaise with any members of the public who want to stop and have a chat,” he said.
“We are here to serve them and try and best police the areas as we possibly can and this is one way of being able to do it.” a to