No Answer On Policing

Newcastle Herald

Saturday October 20, 2007

By DAN PROUDMAN Chief Police Reporter

IT is a list which paints a dim picture of the numbers crisis that has enveloped the Lower Hunter police command.

But the State Government yesterday remained non-committal about issues identified by police, including the need to shut stations and remove officers from their normal duties to prop up front-line police numbers.

Both Premier Morris Iemma and Police Minister David Campbell said they were waiting for the findings of a review into Hunter policing which began last year and has no deadline.

The Herald revealed yesterday that senior police had been forced to shut stations, including Beresfield and Cessnock, to ensure patrol vehicles for Maitland.

Last night, highway patrol officers were taken off their shifts and the Cessnock station shut so its officers could keep the minimum number of officers on the front line.

Premier Morris Iemma, who was in Newcastle yesterday, said the shutting of Beresfield police station for the past two years would come under the review.

"Beresfield, that is one of the issues that the [police] Minister is addressing with the local member and I know that the police themselves have made representations to the Minister so he is onto that and he is working with the local member and the community there who have responded," Mr Iemma said.

"The review into the issue of splitting the Lower Hunter command, that work continues to address that and the numbers, the extra police numbers, continue to roll out."

When asked directly if the Port Stephens command was back on the agenda, the Premier replied: "The issue is doing the work on what is feasible and that work continues."

Mr Campbell said Lower Hunter command had received 18 probationary constables this year, which was a "clear demonstration of the commitment of the Iemma Government to delivering increased police numbers to local communities".

He said that the "most recent police figures show the command is above strength by 21 officers".

There are at least 29 officers on stress leave in the Lower Hunter command.

Lower Hunter officers will meet next Wednesday to vote on starting an industrial dispute before they take their concerns to the Northern police region and its commander, Assistant Commissioner Peter Parsons.

10 REASONS WHY LOWER HUNTER POLICE ARE AT BREAKING POINT

1. The command is ranked first or second in the state for every crime category

2. It has the highest number of charges and court appearances in the state

3. Only command in the state without a target action group (pro-active investigators),

an anti-theft unit or a drug unit

4. Stations are being closed in order to meet first-response agreements

5. Highway patrol officers are being taken off the road to fill general duties positions

6. Stress leave at an all-time high, with 29 officers and some administration staff unfit for work

7. Officers forced to work on rest days to keep up with workload

8. One car crew on a 12-hour night shift called to 52 jobs

9. More than half of officers in detectives office not qualified or trained

10. Beresfield station has been shut for two years because officers are needed in Maitland

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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