State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has called on the Police Minister to answer a number of Questions on Notice regarding Police staffing numbers and Police Station operating hours.
Earlier this year, Ms Hornery placed a number of Questions on the Notice Paper asking for details on the number of Police Officers rostered to work in the Local Area Commands covering the Wallsend electorate and the hours that the Beresfield Police Station was open to the general public.
The Police Minister dismissed the requests for information and failed to appropriately answer the important Questions as he is required to do.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“It is disappointing that the Police Minister just fobbed off the answers to my Questions on Notice, referring me to the NSW Police website for details, which he knows full well are not available.”
“From talking with residents and Police Officers in the electorate, it is evident that there are very few Police rostered on in the Local Area Commands every night.”
“The numbers that I am being told are frightening, with as few as six General Duties Officers rostered to cover a significant part of Newcastle and Wallsend.”
“This is unacceptable, but the Police Minister is playing politics by refusing to take these Questions seriously.”
“We have seen crime rates explode in areas like Beresfield and Tarro and due to the lack of a Police presence we have seen the emergence of Neighbourhood Watch in Wallsend, Maryland, Fletcher and Minmi.”
“Residents are fed up with the lack of resources being allocated to our area. We have Police Officers who are working very very hard but they cannot cover the vast area with only a handful of Officers.”
“The Minister should stop playing politics and let the people of the Wallsend electorate know the truth.”