During a recent visit to the Bega Valley, Police Minister Troy Grant said the newly amalgamated police district is “going exceptionally well”, and regular reviews are “ironing out any kinks”.
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The minister said the reviews have provided information on what is needed, such as increased police numbers and duty types, as well as the current state of police buildings and upgrade needs.
Mr Grant said Bega MP Andrew Constance is “always” in his “ear about a number of stations in his electorate that need some funding support”.
“Between Andrew [Constance], the Commissioner [Mick Fuller] and our office we’re working on all that at the moment,” he said.
In May, the Police Association of NSW called for 2500 officers to be recruited across the state to address officer shortages and help combat what they described as growing issues.
The state government later announced police funding would increase to $3.9billion.
“The association have been running a campaign for more resources, and I support the fact we need more police,” Mr Grant said.
He said 100 more police will be “added to the ranks”, and the commissioner has been asked to provide, over coming months, a “bigger, global figure of what is needed into the future”.
Mr Grant said he disagreed with the association’s call for a per population ratio of police, which he said is thrown out of balance along the coast by the annual influx of summer tourists.
“In the country the local police do far more duty types than they do in other areas, and the South Coast is different to the North Coast, which is different to inland,” he said.
The minister agreed the department will have “to get the balance right” to avoid over policing in areas.
“We’re only just seeing the start of the benefits from re-engineering, and I’m very happy at the moment, and I’m sure the community will be even happier in one year, two years, and three years time,” he said.