Increasing visitor numbers to Glenelg leads to council call for more cops
Holdfast Bay Council is expecting people to flock to Glenelg this summer and wants to see local cop patrols increased, with the community “desperate” for increased police presence.
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Holdfast Bay council wants an increased police presence down the Bay this summer and is organising a petition to ensure it.
The council unanimously agreed this week for its administration to organise a petition, to be tabled in the House of Assembly.
The petition will request increased operating hours, with an operational presence at the Sussex Street police station from 8am to 11pm every day of the week across the summer months.
Council is also seeking increased foot patrols Friday to Sunday nights between 11pm and 2am.
Mayor Amanda Wilson said with COVID-19 restrictions keeping people in SA this summer, plenty of people were expected to flock to the Bay, so a strong police presence was crucial.
“We know that the community is desperate for a greater police presence,” she said.
“We need an increased police presence not just on the coast path, but also in Moseley Square and Jetty Road.
“I just find it unbelievable that we don’t have an operational police station, when Glenelg is the entertainment epicentre outside of the city.”
Ms Wilson said the petition would be distributed to various residents groups, traders and the wider community through council’s elected members.
She said the issue had been ongoing for may years, with the operating hours of the Glenelg police station reduced radically in recent times, resulting in an increase in police response times to incidents.
Council has corresponded with the State Government on a number of occasions seeking an increase to the operating hours of the police station.
Ms Wilson said this has been responded to by SAPOL providing dedicated patrols during peak times, however the council did not consider this sufficient, given the current environment and impacts of COVID.
Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services Minister Vincent Tarzia said the state government had already extended opening hours at three suburban police stations across the city, including Henley Beach.
“From November 1, the Glenelg Police Station will be opened from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 11pm Friday to Sunday and public holidays,” he said.
Mr Tarzia said since coming into government, the Liberals had invested more than $80 million into South Australia’s safety and security.
“This includes $18.6 million for Stage 2 of the District Policing Model which has allowed for a higher number of uniform members during times of peak demand,” he said.
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