Debnam slams Labor on cop shortage

NSW Liberal Leader Peter Debnam slammed the Labor governments ongoing police cuts as a betrayal of local residents during a visit to Albion Park Police Station last week.

The Lake Illawarra Local Area Command has been hardest hit, losing 28 police officers since 2003, he said.

He said the community deserves record numbers of police every year not just in election years.

In 2003 NSW had 15 164 police, we are now 633 below that, he said.

If 15 164 is what they though was appropriate they should have left it at that.

Mr Debnam said he would like to see those police officers the Lake Illawarra Command have lost reinstated as a matter of urgency.

In a high crime jurisdiction the first step to battling that crime is to increase police.

He said a solid statement is needed by the Labor government to police that they have the full support of government.

We need police with political commitment behind them.

His visit to Albion Park Police Station was part of a plan to meet with police across the state.

He also raised the issue of each and every police station across the state being attended 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Most stations are typically manned by very few police, Id like to see police presence increase in stations and on the street so the community knows they are out their and they are looking after their needs, he said.

Mr Debnam said the issue is particularly relevant in Kiama, where 29 police officers have been cut since 2003.

He said the community must be provided with a fully operational police station.

Mr Debnam blamed a rise in recorded crime on a lack of police resources and numbers.

The NSW Recorded Crime Statistics 2005 alarmingly show increases in possession and/or use of narcotics and amphetamines, as well as rises in dealing/trafficking of narcotics and ecstasy, he said.