State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, is calling on the Police Minister to explain what he is doing to reduce crime in the Beresfield/Tarro area after a 450% increase in crimes reported during January and February this year.
From 15 December 2016 to 14 January 2017 only 33 crimes were reported, but from 15 January to 15 February that increased to 147 crimes being reported.
Despite this, the Police Minister refuses to acknowledge that there is an issue in the area and the local Police Station, which is supposed to be open every Monday for a few hours, remains closed more often than it is open.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“My office has received an unprecedented number of calls from residents who are sick to death of the increase in crime in the local area.”
“Assaults, traffic offences and stolen vehicles are high on the list of crimes being reported to me. You only have to look at Facebook posts to see the frustration that residents are experiencing.”
“Local criminals know that Police have to come more than 12km from Maitland or sometimes as far as 33km from Cessnock to get to the area, so they have time to do the crime and get away.”
“Police resources are stretched to the limit and officers are doing as much as they can but local Police are needed on the ground.”
“There are very few local patrols or Police on the beat, shop owners say they have been open for years and never seen an officer.”
“The Government continues to say that the area is adequately serviced by Police and they have more than enough resources.”
“Well Minister, the local residents of Beresfield and Tarro say that you should get out of your ivory tower in Sydney and actually see what is happening in our community and explain how you are going to reduce crime in the area.”