Calls for 24-hour police

A SPATE of late-night crimes in Rosewood has caused residents to demand their police station be upgraded to provide 24-hour policing.

Cr David Pahlke is concerned about the rising level of vandalism in Rosewood and feels the area needs a 24 hour police station. Picture: Rob Williams

A SPATE of late-night crimes in Rosewood has caused residents to demand their police station be upgraded to provide 24-hour policing.

Rosewood councillor David Pahlke said trouble from youth after the station closed was becoming a major issue in the area.

Cr Pahlke said in late September he saw or was called to four separate incidents of groups of young teens causing trouble in the evenings.

"I'm getting calls from residents, and I welcome these, about children causing trouble late at night," he said.

"Driving around late at night you'll see these kids, where are there parents?"

He said residents of Rosewood had to rely on Ipswich police after hours.

"I've got a real concern about response time.

"I know mischievous behaviour doesn't rate highly on the Richter scale of police response time and Ipswich police are busy enough as it is without it.

"Their resources are stretched to the limit already."

Cr Pahlke said the Rosewood station should be upgraded to a 24 hour station and have more resources allocated to it.

"I don't blame the local guys at all," he said.

"They've got a lot on their plate as it is."

Despite Cr Pahlke's calls for a 24 hour station Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said he did not believe Rosewood required constant policing.

However, Mr Leavers said the station was in need of more police.

"Rosewood police station is definitely understaffed," he said.

"It needs an extra two full time police officers to complement the four existing police; however it does not yet have the demands for service at this time that require a 24 hour police station."

The Police Union stated a 24 hour station requires 18 police, more than was required for a town the size of Rosewood and a huge increase over the existing four.

A Rosewood resident said police response times were a major concern.

"I think we need a 24 hour police station," the person, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

"When you need them you can't always count on them being there in time.

Three CCTV cameras are due to be installed in Rosewood in May next year; however, Cr Pahlke said he did not believe the cameras would help without police there to quickly respond.

"What is the use of having cameras, if the police response times are not there?" he said.

Cr Pahlke said in late September groups of children damaged a toilet in Johnston Park, broke a shop's windows and kicked over rubbish bins.

Originally published as Calls for 24-hour police