General News
5 September, 2024
Mayor concerned about police shortfall in region
Some stations face closure if they don't get officers soon.
Cloncurry Shire mayor Greg Campbell has called on the Queensland Police Service to review its relocation and incentive arrangements to combat shortfalls in police officer numbers across North West stations.
The appeal comes as Cloncurry, McKinlay and Etheridge shires all face ongoing problems with police staffing levels, which Cr Campbell said he believed was due to broader recruitment issues confronting QPS.
The mayor told North West Weekly he was in the process of drafting a formal letter to Mount Isa district superintendent Tom Armitt and Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski requesting clarification on police numbers in the region as well as suggesting a review into the incentive programs used to lure and retain officers in our region.
Cr Campbell said QPS had faced a slew of local concern in recent months over staffing numbers, with both Cloncurry and Dajarra police stations operating for months without a full roster of police officers.
QPS has also faced criticism across the North West following its decision to close McKinlay’s station, with the officer relocated to Julia Creek, in addition to the closure at Forsayth in the Gulf, which has meant the vast Etheridge Shire is now reliant on a single officer to maintain law and order.
Cr Campbell said he had raised his concerns with senior police in recent weeks, who had informed him that QPS had struggled to meet its statewide recruitment targets.
It was estimated earlier this year there were up to 800 police vacancies across the state.
Cr Campbell said any effort to improve recruitment and retainment numbers needed to include strong consideration of the incentive program on offer.
“We support the police – they are the first people you want to see if you are in any trouble – and that’s why we want to make sure everything possible is being done to attract them to areas such as Cloncurry Shire,” he told North West Weekly.
“Every government area has to look at its own (incentive) arrangements and make sure they are achieving the desired results.”
Cr Campbell said QPS should compare its incentive programs to those used to attract other public service roles, such as teachers, doctors or local government workers, to determine if they are “fit for purpose.”
A QPS spokesperson said in a statement that while staffing figures will fluctuate from time to time, it had sufficient staff and resources to deliver professional policing services to all residents across the region.
The spokesperson said two officers had transferred to Cloncurry within the past week and additional officers were expected to be transferred into the area shortly, which would return Cloncurry to full strength.
“The service regularly reviews population growth, crime trends and service delivery requirements to ensure a fair and equitable policing service is provided throughout the state,” the spokesperson said.
“Similar to many organisations, the QPS often experiences staff movements whether as a result of sickness or injury, or in the event that an employee successfully seeks a transfer or promotion.
“The QPS continues to adopt an agile and borderless policing approach enriched with technology, in which officers are no longer restricted to a static location.
“This means that regardless of where a frontline officer is based, they will spend the majority of their shift out in the community, responding to calls for service and patrolling the area.”