Labor Government’s No Answer on Police Numbers

Wednesday, 01 December 2010 09:23

Media Releases - Kevin Anderson Media Release

Kevin Anderson, The Nationals candidate for Tamworth, today criticised the Labor Government's response to the rising levels of crime being witnessed in Tamworth.

"I have been asked by the community about the lack of police numbers on our streets and the rise in crime, and a spike in break and enters. I have also been asked by local police to assist them in obtaining more officers to help keep our streets safe."

"This issue needed to be addressed in Parliament so my colleague Trevor Khan asked the Government in Parliament today whether it would consider allocating more police officers to Oxley Local Area Command.

"At my request Trevor put to the Government the dramatic increase in crime with 63 break-ins in only the last 30 days, as reported in the Northern Daily Leader today, and asked whether any more police resources could be delivered to the Tamworth and Gunnedah regions."

"The Labor Minister responsible, Treasurer Eric Roozendaal, was unable to answer the question," Mr Anderson said.

"Tamworth residents want this problem addressed now and will not be happy to hear we have to wait again to find out whether the Government will increase police numbers to bring law and order back to Tamworth.”

In a report released today by the Auditor-General it was shown the Western region, of which Oxley Local Area Command is a part, has 26 less police working than it has been officially allocated. The region currently has a shortfall of 26 positions from the authorised force strength of 1,179 positions.

"Why do we have such a deficit?" Kevin Anderson said. "What the Auditor General's report also shows is that 184 officers in the Western region, or nearly 16%, are also on restricted duties or absent, meaning the shortfall is even greater. This means a huge number of our officers may be unable to attend to crimes, like the recent spate of break-ins being witnessed in Tamworth."

Mr Anderson said that after 15 years of power it appears as if the Labor Government has just given up.

"The only way to change regional NSW is to change the government,’’ Mr Anderson said.

"The NSW Liberals and Nationals have the positive, practical plans to Make Regional NSW Number One Again."

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