URGENT CALL FOR 40 EXTRA POLICE TO COPE WITH CRIME SURGE IN REGION

Force under pressure as post-COVID crime surges

CAIRNS “urgently” needs an extra 40 police to cope with the predicted surge in crime postCOVID.

Far North police union representative Sergeant Marty Bristow said the extra staff were needed “ASAP” and were particularly needed for property crime, the watch-house and to undertake rotations in Cape York.

In a blunt message which appeared in the latest Police Journal, Sergeant Bristow said as the region awakened from lockdown restrictions, the crime drop experienced during the pandemic would be shortlived, a warning backed by senior Far North police.

“What is certain when many restrictions are eased, Cairns district will need more police on the ground to check on offenders to ensure they comply with bail conditions, investigate property offences, unlawful use offences and offences against the person, not to mention the potential increase in family violence and other disturbances,” he said.

“To be extremely blunt, we need more staff, more first response police in Cairns district.

“I believe we urgently need approximately 40 additional general duties staff in Cairns.

“We need these additional staff, and we need them ASAP.”

Sergeant Bristow said he was aware additional resources would not be financially palatable given government debt, but long term it would save the State Government money.

“More police means criminals are kept under control and prevented from committing offences, reducing costs incurred for investigation, prosecution and potential incarceration,” he said.

Cairns’ Crime and Justice Action Group spokesman Aaron McLeod supported the call for extra officers.

“Property crime has been an upward trend in recent times,” he said.

“COVID has been a bit of a blip on the radar, but we expect property crime to increase substantially as JobKeeper and JobSeeker are wound down and more people are unemployed,” he said.

“Policing is a very, very important function in managing the crime issue and there are definitely more police needed.”

A spokeswoman for Police Minister Mark Ryan said police resourcing was “best left to the Queensland Police Service”.

“The Police Commissioner makes these decisions free of political interference – and that’s as it should be,” he said.

However, he said State Government funding had led to 70 additional positions for Cairns under the Labor government.

“Community safety is a priority for our government and we will continue to provide police with the funding they need to keep Queenslanders safe,” he said.

Opposition Police spokesman Dan Purdie said more police were needed per capita across the state.

He said the LNP, if elected, were also planning to introduce new legislation around juvenile crime and domestic violence, which they hoped would free up police time.