Out to police boost pledge

TOWNSVILLE MP Scott Stewart has called for additional police officers to hit the beat in Townsville before the end of the year as the city looks to hit back against rising crime.

An extra 53 police officers over four years were promised to the Townsville district ahead of the last State Government election but nearly two years on none of the guaranteed resources have been delivered.

Townsville had a 13.5 per cent increase in robberies last financial year compared to the previous 12 months.

In the same period unlawful entries rose 9.6 per cent with 3266 offences recorded in the year leading up to June 2019.

The number of stolen cars also took a sharp increase of 14 per cent with 999 offences of unlawful use of a motor vehicle in the recording period.

“Our coppers do an outstanding job each and every day and I back them 100 per cent,” Mr Stewart said.

“Every time we talk to our police we say to them: ‘ What do you need?’

“Basically, they just want boots on the ground and we have advocated to get these extra coppers and now we just want to see them delivered.”

Mr Stewart told the Bulletin he had made contact with Police Minister Mark Ryan and the office of the Police Commissioner advocating for the resources to start arriving before the end of the year.

“(Commissioner Katarina Carroll) needs to send us as many police as possible up here on a permanent basis and as many as possible before the end of the year,” he said.

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said if he could have the extra police officers here yesterday he would.

“Crime stats are going up and down and we are working hard on things, particularly around youth crime with the 23 recommendations from Major General Stuart Smith’s report,” he said.

“We need to be holding offenders accountable and we will continue every way we can to reduce crime.

“We know how important this issue is for the people of Townsville.”

Townsville Police District Chief Superintendent Kev Guteridge said he was looking forward to the extra officers but it was important new officers be fully trained and that could not happen overnight.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the appointment of new police was a comprehensive process.

“The Queensland Police Service remains committed to delivering additional police within the time schedule,” the spokesman said.