State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, will today move a Notice of Motion in NSW Parliament calling on the NSW Police Minister to review the allocation of Police resources currently being provided to Beresfield and Tarro, following the recent increase in crimes across the area.
Last month saw an armed robbery and a vicious assault and robbery in the area and local businesses and residents have reported a sharp increase in crime.
Ms Hornery met with residents and businesses who raised concerns that with Police Stations located at Maitland and Raymond Terrace, Beresfield and Tarro are not seeing regular Police patrols or Police walking the streets and incidents take far too long to respond to.
Ms Hornery has raised this issue with the Police District and has written to the Minister calling for more resources, but locals are fed up with seeing an increase in patrols for a week or two and then things slip back to normal.
“The Wallsend electorate covers three Police Districts and the major cause for concern seems to be the fringes where the Districts meet,” said Ms Hornery.
“Areas like Beresfield and Tarro receive the least Police attention and are being neglected when it comes to resources.
“I want to see a commitment to having a permanent Police presence in this part of the electorate.
“Residents are sick and tired of seeing an increase in patrols for a week or two then things go back to how they were. Residents want to see a permanent presence in the area and have launched an online petition to have the local Police Station reopened on a permanent basis.
“We need to see more than just a couple of events and a few patrols for a week or two.
“The latest BOCSAR statistics show Beresfield and Tarro crime rates well above the State average.
“There must be more permanent Police resources allocated to Beresfield and Tarro and this Notice of Motion should be supported,” Ms Hornery said.