BATHURST police have joined their colleagues across the region in demanding to know the post-election plan for police numbers across the state.
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The Bathurst Branch of the Police Association is calling on the Baird Government to tell the people of NSW its answer for fixing what it says is the critical problem of local police shortages.
Historically, Chifley Local Area Command has struggled with policing numbers – so much so that in 2014 the Police Association negotiated a new first response policing agreement and, as a result, received additional staff.
But association members are concerned, as the population of Bathurst and surrounds continues to grow, that the Government is turning a blind eye to dwindling police numbers not only in Chifley but in the larger Western Region.
Chifley Police Association official Sue Rose said the distances covered by the Western Region are unique and more police are needed to ensure adequate coverage. Even in Chifley, she said, the 24-hour stations were propping up outlying sections.
“If Bathurst is working well, then everyone tends to work well,” she said.
“But we are often sending people out to outlying sections, which leaves Bathurst short of first response police.”
She said the Baird Government had, to date, failed to provide the community with a plan to put more police on the streets.
“Police across the Western Region are asking what is the plan for NSW Police and how will additional police numbers be delivered?” she said.
“They want to know if Sydney suburbs will lose police to fill the holes in country and regional NSW – and, more importantly, will country areas continue to be overlooked?”
Mrs Rose said police want to know if the people of Bathurst and surrounds will continue to see policing numbers stagnate while the population grows.
“The Baird Government’s announcement on police numbers last week will only deliver an extra 130 officers,” she said.
“The patent inadequacy of this is put into perspective when you consider the state needs 247 police a year just to keep up with population growth.
“None of the 130 officers promised by the Baird Government are coming to the frontline – frontline police numbers need to be staffed as the priority.
“If this is the extent of the Liberals and Nationals’ approach to chronically understaffed police stations then we are really facing a crisis.”
She said the Baird Government should make its plan clear before polling day.
