COPS DROP ‘BURB BEATS
NEW COP SHOP TO COMBINE FORCES
A “SUPER- BEAT” in the Upper Ross could lead to officers and services being ripped out of other crime- ridden suburbs.
A site at Rasmussen is being considered as a potential location for a 10- officer service.
The move could lead to the closure of smaller beats in Kelso and Rasmussen but also, it is understood, beats in Garbutt and Vincent could be closed as part of the plans.
Police sources shared their concerns with the Bulletin about the proposals saying Garbutt and Vincent were crime hotspots that benefited from police presence.
But Chief Superintendent Kev Guteridge said plans weren’t locked in and the closure of any beat would be up to the Police Commissioner. “Areas absolutely wouldn’t miss out,” he said. “Any decision or recommendation going forward would be focused on nothing but giving better services.”
A NEW police “super- beat” is ready to be established in the Upper Ross but the increased policing presence may come with a loss of other services.
Townsville Police Chief Superintendent Kev Guteridge confirmed a review into the police beats operating in city had started.
The Townsville Bulletin understands a site in Bluewattle Boulevard, Rasmussen, is being sought for a new 10- officer service in the form of a large beat or small police station.
Sources have told the Bulletin that the opening of this facility at Rasmussen could lead to closures of two smaller established beats in the Upper Ross ( Kelso and Rasmussen) as well as the Garbutt and Vincent police beats.
Chief Supt Guteridge said no plans were locked in and the closure of any beat would be up to the Police Commissioner although he was confident his recommendation after the review was completed would be considered.
“The beat model was introduced many years ago and certainly had success in their time,” Chief Supt Guteridge said.
“Traditionally, we have always done policing in a certain way and this review provides another opportunity to say ‘ is that what we should be doing’.
“Areas absolutely wouldn’t miss out. Any decision or recommendation going forward would be focused on nothing else but giving better services.”
Several police sources said there was concern about a lack of transparency with the public on the issue given the likelihood of services being lost in Garbutt and Vincent, both known crime hot spots.
The Garbutt neighbourhood beat falls inside Townsville MP Scott Stewart’s electorate.
Mr Stewart said he would not want to see any police services in his electorate closed without statistical evidence to back up the decision.
Chief Supt Guteridge said community consultation would form part of the review process.
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said he had taken a request to Police Minister Mark Ryan for a new station to be established in the Upper Ross.
Police officers from Kirwan have been placed at the Kelso police beat in the past year as a trial for boosting officers numbers in the region.
Mr Harper said that trial identified that the current facilities were simply not adequate to sustain additional officers.
“The idea was to amalgamate a team into working out of one beat with extra resources from Kirwan to make that a 10- man station,” Mr Harper said.
“The beat at Kelso is a tiny beat … it’s a demountable.
“They need a station to work from, not a demountable.”
Mr Harper said the site being sought for the new “super- beat” was geographically in between the current Kelso and Rasmussen facilities.
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers confirmed he was aware of the review into the Townsville police beats and had met with management to discuss the matter.