Police Posting Debate Continues

The Commander of the region’s police force says it is not possible to fill all staff vacancies.

Politicians and the police union are angry that none of the 130-recruits who just graduated from the Goulburn Academy will be sent to the north coast.

They say there is a chronic shortfall in staff numbers in the region and the issue needs urgent action.

But Assistant Commissioner Carleen York says staffing levels on the north coast are running at about 80-percent.

“You always have police on leave, sick leave or holiday and things like that, so I don’t know that we’ve ever realised 100% non-vacancy rates with police on the streets.” Asst Comm York said.

“We look at how we roster and we’re resourced accordingly, but when it gets below 80% that becomes an issue and we really start to focus on it – a couple of those areas in the region do have 80% so they’re certainly at the forefront of my mind,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Clarence MP Steve Cansdell says the ratio of people to police on the north coast is well above the state average.

He says a shortage of front-line officers leads to long response times when crimes are reported.

“When you’ve got the ration of one police officer for every 500 across the state, on the north coast you’ve got one for 700, in the Clarence you’ve got one for a thousand, in the Lower Clarence it’s one to 1500, come holiday times there’s one police officer for every 2200 people,” Mr Cansdell said.

“I mean that’s just ridiculous,” he said.

10 May 10

• Rally Makes Waves in Macquarie St
• Rail Services Safe Says Page
• Near-Record SME Dissatisfaction with Government
• Mayor Slams Hospital Repair Estimate
• Ratepayers Take on Ballina Council
• Rudd Pledges Loyalty After Ballot Defeat
• Maccas Decision Hard to Swallow
• Page MP Declares Support for Rudd
• New Cross Border Commissioner Appointed
• Splendour Returns to Byron
• Mayor Says Help Still Available to Inghams
• Lismore Floods Leave $1m Damage Bill
• 560 jobs to go at Westpac
• Pacific Highway Open but More Rain to Come
• $2m Grafton Airport Upgrade Critical
• Gas Firm Proposes Underground Salt Solution
• Nationals Hold Clarence
• Clarence Swing to ALP Forecasted for the By-election
• Call for More Casino Police
• Clarence Candidates Quizzed on Power Privatisation
• Nationals Release Coal-Seam Gas Blueprint
• North Coast Housing Industry Takes a Hit
• North Coast Jobless Rate Falls
• North Coast Jobless Rate Falls
• Ex-mayor wins Nationals' Preselection for Clarence
• NORBEC Helps Local Businesses
• North Coast Gas Firm Hints at Future Fracking
• North Coast Gas Firm Hints at Future Fracking
• Ballina Horse Dies from Hendra
• Push to Return Splendour to Northern Rivers

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