POLICE in regional areas are under the pump and funding continues to be cut, according to the state’s shadow police minister.
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Guy Zangari is concerned police in rural and regional areas, such as Leeton, Griffith and the wider area, are not getting the support they need.
He said officers on the frontline in regional areas were overworked and the NSW government was doing little to curb the problem.
“I believe the new police districts being implemented are only going to hurt our officers more,” Mr Zangari said.
“Especially in regional areas where they may be having to travel long distances to attend an incident.
“It’s not good for them and it’s not good for the community.”
According to Labor, the spend by the Coalition on police resources has hit a five-year low at $483.4 million.
The latest report from the Productivity Commission on police services found the police spend per person across the NSW population had been slashed by $80 since 2012-13.
In 2016-17 the spend per person was $388.6 compared to $458 in 2015-16, $462.1 in 2014-15, $468.2 in 2013-14 and $440.6 in 2012-13.
“I can’t fathom how this premier would rather spend billions on stadiums, rather than adequately resourcing our police force,” the opposition minister said.
“The safety of our community should come before a flashy new stadium.”
Police numbers in rural and regional areas was also on Mr Zangari’s mind.
He said more graduates needed to be deployed to areas like the MIA, especially when taking into consideration there would always be officers on annual or sick leave, retiring or off work for other reasons.
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“It’s crucial we have more police in regional areas,” Mr Zangari said.
“I’m very much aware that in communities like Leeton the drug ICE is a problem and that’s causing a whole range of issues, so we need police there on the ground.
“There’s also the issue of domestic violence in these towns. We need officers there helping the victims straight away. We don’t want victims of crime having to wait around for the police to attend.”
The new Murrumbidgee Police District, which takes in Leeton and Griffith will be in place at some stage this month, but a set date hasn’t been announced.
