Cops’ babysitting fee

THE supervision of kids in watchhouses will cost taxpayers almost $1 million a year just for overtime payments, according to State Budget papers.

The Bulletin revealed in March that it was costing about $50,000 a week in police overtime to babysit youth offenders. Police sources estimate that the officers, either constables or senior sergeants, are sometimes racking up daily bills of up to $7000.

A State Budget paper said: “The Government has provided additional funding of $938,000 in 2018-19 to support increased costs to support and supervise young people in watchhouses.”

The Government is investing in a suite of youth justice initiatives which includes $154 million in operating costs and $178 million worth of capital works. Other initiatives announced in yesterday’s State Budget include almost $5 million in 2021 to target serious and organised crime.

Budget papers said the funding would be used to “target crime hot spots throughout the state, and issues such as organised crime, alcohol-fuelled violence and the drug ice”.

The Budget Papers confirm $10.8 million in 2019-20 out of a total spend of $11.5 million to build the new police hub at Arundel. There was no nothing specific about additional police numbers on the Coast.