LNP commit $4.1 million to establish Burleigh Heads police beat, reverse secret cuts to cops

‘It was horrific. We feel powerless’. Traders of troubled paradise Burleigh Heads say a new crime-busting squad can’t come soon enough. Read the full details.

Cuts to Gold Coast police will be overturned and dedicated officers stationed in Burleigh Heads in a multimillion-dollar LNP election commitment to address violence and crime.

The $4.1 million dollar community safety plan was unveiled in Burleigh by police spokesman Dan Purdie and local LNP candidate Hermann Vorster.

It follows mounting calls for urgent action in the wake of an alleged unlawful strike in the party hotspot late last month which claimed the life of 22-year-old man Cameron Duce.

“This has been 12 months in the making. An LNP government will fund a multi-pronged crime reduction approach,” Mr Purdie said.

“This includes a permanent police facility here in Burleigh, in the shape of a shopfront or a police beat.”

The LNP has set aside $600,000 for the proposed police facility – which the city’s former top cops have been advocating for in response to the population growth and crime concerns.

LNP police spokesman Dan Purdie (left) and Burleigh state candidate Hermann Vorster announce $4.1 million community safety package for Burleigh.

A further half a million dollars would go towards expanding the council CCTV safety camera network into the emerging party hotspot.

“We know that the police have live monitoring of that CCTV footage,” Mr Purdie said.

“It helps prevent crime and also helps to respond to crime and solve it. This is a comprehensive plan. It’s a fully costed plan that will return safety to Burleigh.

“We are going to give our police back the resources they need to do their job.”

The LNP says $2 million dollars has been budgeted to overturn cuts to police positions on the southern Gold Coast. It comes after the Bulletin’s Thin Blue Line series revealed six approved officer roles were secretly cut, leaving a crime-ridden community with its lowest resources in 13 years.

The remaining million dollars will see a local liquor accord established – bringing licensed venues, businesses, council and police together to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour. It includes contingency funding for extra police activities as decided by the liquor accord.

Mr Vorster said the community was at a “crossroads” amid escalating crime – and feel concerns hadn’t been heard.

“Burleigh is now the scene of arson, it’s the scene of assault and we’ve seen just this week, tragically a young person lose their life,” Mr Vorster said.

“The state Labor government was warned – they were warned a year ago that things were spiralling out of control here.”

Mr Vorster said residents have “had enough” and demanding action.

“Burleigh is not just a dining and entertainment destination, it’s home to thousands of local families who deserve to have a relaxed coastal lifestyle in our communal backyard and return home safely.”

Tess Lindores, owner of Burleigh's Dore clothing boutique

Clothing boutique owner Tess Lindores said the issues had escalated to the point her shop was forced to close this week – the result of a drug-affected person causing chaos down main drag James St.

“Screaming, she was in the middle of the road, she was abusing people,” Ms Lindores said.

“She came into my business, I had to shut the doors and lock her out. It was pretty horrific.”

The small business owner said it wasn’t isolated and had become “normality”. She said the commitment of dedicated police and CCTV would help tackle the issues.

“We do feel powerless. Occasionally you will see police walk down the street but it’s not often and it’s not often they’re there when you need them” Ms Lindores said.

“It will be great once we have a police presence. It will make us feel so much safer.”

In response, Gold Coast Gaven MP and Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said Labor was “supportive of looking into a safe night precinct in the area but we will need to get the view of the community and businesses”.

“There really needs to be buy-in from those local businesses as we have seen in other precincts and are open to any suggestion put for by council or those businesses.

“We have seen our governments investing heavily in the front line and commuting safety and that is starting to see some results deliver a safer community.”

Originally published as LNP commit $4.1 million to establish Burleigh Heads police beat, reverse secret cuts to cops