SA police stations face axe: Police Commissioner Gary Burns says they ‘don’t add any value’

EIGHT suburban police stations face closure within the next two years, as Commissioner Gary Burns warns their “days are numbered” and says keeping them operating is a “hindrance” to the force.

03/01/14 SA Police Commissioner Gary Burns speaks at press conference on the Adelaide Hills fire at the Adelaide Police Headquarters. photo Calum Robertson

EIGHT suburban police stations face closure within the next two years, because Commissioner Gary Burns says keeping them operating is a “hindrance” to the force.

Mr Burns has previously floated the possibility of shutting the “satellite stations”, but significantly hardened his language in a State Parliament committee hearing today.

He said a final decision to close the Malvern, Firle, Hallett Cove, Newton, North Adelaide, Blakeview, Pooraka and Tea Tree Gully stations could be made within weeks.

Mr Burns said the stations averaged three visits per day and tied up 12 officers.

“I believe that the satellite stations don’t add any value to policing or the public,” he said.

“In fact, there’s 12 police officers sitting in those stations, when they could be in patrol cars preventing crime rather than waiting to receive a report of a crime.

“My view is the satellite police station days are numbered. They are bricks and mortar, they are nothing else. They are a hindrance to policing, not an assistance.”

Mr Burns said there was a big increase in people reporting crashes and lost property online, as well as accessing speed camera photographs and other services. Closure of the stations would likely occur as building leases ended in the next six months to two years.

He said the budget saving would be small, but change would release more officers into the field.

Mr Burns said much community opposition to closures was created by a “lack of understanding”.

“There is a perception that police cars and patrol cars come out of these satellite stations,” he said. “It’s not the case, the patrol car transports the person there to open up the station.”

The Budget and Finance Committee hearing was also told SA Police needed to find $260 million in savings over the next four years. Mr Burns said the force was on track to recruit another 300 officers over that period, but conceded cuts would put pressure on the workforce.

Seventy-seven per cent of the total police budget was spent on wages, he said.

Liberal treasury spokesman Rob Lucas said the party would consider its position on closures.

“Normally we would be very unsympathetic towards police station closures, particularly as the Government has campaigned in recent elections over their importance,” he said.

“Ultimately, it might not be an all or nothing issue.

“It might be an issue that there is a persuasive case made out for some and not others.”

The stations going:

■ Malvern

■ Firle

■ Hallett Cove

■ Newton

■ North Adelaide

■ Blakeview

■ Pooraka

■ Tea Tree Gully