State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, yesterday raised concerns about how Police resources are allocated, particularly in the Central Hunter Local Area Command.
Ms Hornery debated a Notice of Motion calling on the Government to review how resource allocations are made to Local Area Commands after it was revealed that only one new Police recruit was allocated to the Central Hunter Local Area Command in August.
Of the 226 new officers that will join the New South Wales Police Force, a staggering 83% of recruits will be stationed in Sydney with the rest of the State sharing the remaining 17%.
The Northern Region received a total of 16 new officers to cover the area from the Hawkesbury to the Queensland border.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“The Notice of Motion called on the Government to review how Police are allocated after we only received one new recruit in the August allocation to the Central Hunter Local Area Command.”
“The Government had an opportunity to explain why so many Police were allocated to Sydney Local Area Commands over parts of the Wallsend electorate which are experiencing record levels of crime.”
“Instead the Government indicated that the Local Area Command in fact has 20 Officer over its allocation and that we are awash with police. They suggested that the Local Area Command has more bodies than seats and then voted against the Notice of Motion.”
“The Government just doesn’t get it, Police resources are stretched to the limit and officers are doing as much as they can but more local Police are needed on the ground.”
“My office has received a spike in complaints from people fearing for their safety and security, over things like unlicensed motorbike riders tearing up parks.”
“Yet the Government continues to say that the area is adequately serviced by Police and they have more than enough resources.”
“More Police on the beat are needed, we deserve our fair share.”