Tuesday, 14th April 2020
The LNP is calling on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to rapidly increase police resources on the Gold Coast as officers become stretched to breaking point.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said enforcing border closures and monitoring people in isolation had massively increased the workload of the local police service.
“If the police need more boots on the ground to do the job being asked of them, then they should get them,” Ms Frecklington said.
“The resources Gold Coast police have at their disposal must reflect the enormous challenges they face responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Police from other areas could be called in to reinforce local officers and ease the burden, like what occurred during the Commonwealth Games.
“This crisis isn’t going away anytime soon and it’s crucial police have the resources required to protect the community now and in the coming months.”
LNP MP for Mermaid Beach Ray Stevens said local police desperately needed more support from the State Government.
“I am hearing from frontline police officers they are frustrated with a severe lack of resources and they are stretched to breaking point,” Mr Stevens said.
“The resources Gold Coast police have at the moment are unsustainable.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to listen to police and do whatever it takes to ensure they have the resources they need.”
Laura Gerber, the LNP’s representative for Currumbin, said surging crime on the Gold Coast before the coronavirus pandemic meant police were already under pressure.
“Cutting crime across Currumbin was one of the core issues I fought my campaign on,” Ms Geber said.
“The danger now with not enough police resources is crime will increase even more, which puts community safety at risk.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to grasp how serious this issue is and immediately allocate more police to the Gold Coast.”