Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH - 1994-06-28
Mr Speaker, my question relates to people in Palmerston and my electorate. Before the election, the knee-jerk reaction to calls for a greater police presence in Palmerston was answered by increasing the office hours at the police office. What will be the future police presence in Palmerston and the Darwin rural area? Will the increased working hours of the police continue? Will there be even longer working hours in the police office? Will there be an increase in the mobile police presence?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I have more information on this subject in my budget committee notes which I expect to deal with during the course of business today. However, from memory, the opening hours of the Palmerston Police Office have been extended. It is manned 24 hours a day, but the hours when people can attend that office in person to make inquiries or lay complaints have been extended. I understand that there have been some changes to road patrols in the area also. This subject is under review at present, but I can provide more information in the committee stage of the budget.
Although I am sure that the member is aware of this, I point out that the longer police stations are kept open, the less time and resources are available for mobile patrols. That balance needs to be taken into consideration and the number of police is crucial to that equation. Members would be aware that 20 new police, for whom recruitment commenced shortly after last year's budget, are due to complete their 12 months initial training very shortly. In the recent election campaign, the government committed itself to an additional 25 new police. Recruitment action for those positions is under way already with officers interstate at this very time to select new recruits for the police intake in September this year.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I have more information on this subject in my budget committee notes which I expect to deal with during the course of business today. However, from memory, the opening hours of the Palmerston Police Office have been extended. It is manned 24 hours a day, but the hours when people can attend that office in person to make inquiries or lay complaints have been extended. I understand that there have been some changes to road patrols in the area also. This subject is under review at present, but I can provide more information in the committee stage of the budget.
Although I am sure that the member is aware of this, I point out that the longer police stations are kept open, the less time and resources are available for mobile patrols. That balance needs to be taken into consideration and the number of police is crucial to that equation. Members would be aware that 20 new police, for whom recruitment commenced shortly after last year's budget, are due to complete their 12 months initial training very shortly. In the recent election campaign, the government committed itself to an additional 25 new police. Recruitment action for those positions is under way already with officers interstate at this very time to select new recruits for the police intake in September this year.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016