Police stations face the chop
TOWNSVILLE region police stations face closure under a major review.
The Townsville Bulletin understands a number of senior police officers have been asked to investigate the restructure and the viability of some police stations.
Several police sources confirmed the potential changes, with the new direction aiming to deliver a more mobile force. It is understood the restructure could involve establishing an investigative hub, moving detectives to a newer location, and larger police stations being replaced by smaller ones.
TOWNSVILLE policing is undergoing a major review, with the potential closure of stations and the restructuring of how police operate in the region on the cards.
The Bulletin understands a number of senior police officers have been asked to investigate the restructure and the viability of some police stations, including the one- officer station at Clare.
Several police sources confirmed the potential changes, with the new direction aiming to deliver a more mobile force which, according to sources, could see the potential closure or restructure of Townsville station and other stations in the region.
It is understood the restructure will take time, but could involve establishing an investigative hub, moving detectives to a newer location, and other smaller stations popping up in the place of the traditional larger police stations.
The number of general duties police patrolling the divisions will not change.
Chief Superintendent Kev Guteridge confirmed there was an ongoing review of policing in the Townsville district and said although there was no pending station closures, he could not rule out anything in the future.
“I can’t rule out anything,” Chief Supt Guteridge said.
However, he said, they were committed to ensuring any changes had a significant evidence base. “Part of that evidence base is going to be a very, very in- depth review and analysis, which will take a very significant amount of time to finalise to make sure that we get that best fit,” he said.
“It’s not my role to, nor the role of the management within this area or region, to just go and close a police station for the sake of it, so there is no police stations pending closure at this point in time.
“Any changes that will come through, we will be very open and transparent and if it’s the case that it may have significant impact on communities there will be very widespread community engagement and discussion.”
Chief Supt Guteridge said it was their role as leaders to look at how Townsville police would operate into the future.
“It may be the case now that the traditional methods that we’ve had in place for, in many cases, 100 years, may not be the ones relevant to go forward,” he said.
“Part of my role here will be undertaking a review of what we are currently doing, to look for any opportunities that we can actually improve our services and make our service delivery more efficient, particularly in terms of crime prevention.
“Trying to best- fit the Townsville Police District for the next 20 to 50 years is a key focus of mine.”
Police Minister Mark Ryan said he was not aware of any closures and that the Government would keep funding and allocating the resources needed to police the region.
“I’m not aware of any proposals to close police stations, and in fact this is a Government that is opening new police stations, not closing them,” he said. “The operational requirements of police across Queensland are things that are set by the Commissioner.
“( The Labor Government) will continue to resource our police with the funds and the people and also the equipment they need to keep Queenslanders safe.”
THE news that some Townsville police stations may close is alarming in light of the city’s ongoing crime problem.
Many organisations go through periods of restructure but this review is one that gives cause for alarm.
The presence of a police station in any area can serve as a reminder to would- be wrongdoers that they are being watched.
It is also a place where community members know they can go to make reports or access services.
Even if the goal is a more mobile service, removing or downsizing police stations, particularly from areas set for growth such as the CBD, would be political suicide for any government.
It would be seen as raising the white flag to the city’s criminals and the public won’t stand for it.