Future of Gold Coast police rapid response team hangs on outcome of report by Griffith

THE future of the police group designed to help clean up the Gold Coast’s bikie mess hangs on the outcome of a report being prepared by criminologists at Griffith University.

Rapid Action Force Police team during a briefing ahead of a raid at a unit in Nerang last year.

THE future of the police squad created to clean up outlaw gangs on the Gold Coast rests on a report by criminologists.

Experts at Griffith University have been looking at all aspects of the Rapid Action Patrol Group (RAP) -- including its success, costs and arrest rate -- as its three-year trial comes to an end.

The report will determine if RAP will continue on the Gold Coast, expand across Queensland or close down all together.

The review is due to be completed by the end of the year or early next year.

RAP was formed by the Newman Government in mid-2014 to tackle the city’s bikie epidemic, which hit its peak months earlier when gangs got into an ugly brawl in Broadbeach and stormed the Southport police station.

“Once the valuation comes out we will know a bit more (about the future of RAP,” Gold Coast District Acting Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said.

“But you just have to look at the work they have already done.”

Acting Chief Supt Hanlon said RAP would continue business as usual until the review was released.

Queensland Police would not release the cost of the report being compiled by Griffith University criminologist Professor Janet Ransley, saying it was commercial in confidence.

The RAP model was unique to the Gold Coast before expanding to Townsville. It aimed at allowing officers to work from the road, rather than being hampered by divisional and district boundaries.

In 2015-16, RAP arrested almost 5600 people on more than 12,000 charges and executed more than 450 search warrants.

The officers have a home base where they store their equipment but when required, will bring suspects to the closest police station rather than returning to home base.

Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said there were “obviously some questions” about RAP that needed answers, including increased crime on the Gold Coast.

“I would have expected to see a lesser increase this year rather than a bigger increase,” he said.

The annual statistical review released a fortnight ago found crime in the South East region increased in 14 of 35 categories measured.

But while crime such as assaults and property thefts were up, drug crime was down.

Dr Goldsworthy said this was often an indicator that proactive policing was down.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon said he was pleased to have the RAP officers located in his area.

“They are a rapid response group and stationed in Varsity Lakes it would have taken them a long time to get to the northern Gold Coast,” he said.

Mr Crandon said the northern section of the Gold Coast was in need of more police officers.

Originally published as Future of Gold Coast police rapid response team hangs on outcome of report by Griffith