State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, is supporting calls by the NSW Police Association for more Police Officers, particularly in the Central Hunter Local Area Command.
Of the 226 new Officers that joined the New South Wales Police Force at the last graduation, a staggering 83% were stationed in Sydney, with the rest of the State sharing the remaining 17%. The Central Hunter Local Area Command only received one new recruit.
The Northern Region received a total of 16 new Officers to cover the area from the Hawkesbury River to the Queensland border.
During a debate in NSW Parliament last week on Police numbers in the Central Hunter Local Area Command, successive Government MPs told the Parliament that the LAC was 20 Officers over its allocation and that the area was awash with Police.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“I fully support calls by Police on the ground for more Officers. More than 2,500 officers are needed to continue preventing crime across the State, and more than 20 are needed in the Central Hunter Local Area Command.”
“The Government must 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.”
“Last week, a procession of Government MPs told Parliament that the Local Area Command has 20 Officers over its allocation and that we are awash with Police. They suggested that the Local Area Command has more bodies than seats.”
“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.”
“Local Police officers are feeling the pressure of uncertainty as a result of the re-engineering process. Our community deserves a well-resourced and staffed Police Force.”
“More Police on the beat are needed, we deserve our fair share.”