Call for more cops

BLACKBUTT residents are concerned about the level of police presence in their town.

ALL GONE: Blackbutt resident Bernard Sleswick is astonished by the lack of police presence in his town. Photo: Jordan Philp . Picture: Jordan Philp

BLACKBUTT residents are concerned about the level of police presence in their town.

They say it has diminished over the years and needs addressing.

But Gympie district police superintendent Chris Sang said Blackbutt had seen a recent increase in crime prevention and enforcement.

The two-man station is currently run by one police officer, with back up available from other police stations nearby.

"The police officer we have in Blackbutt at the moment is doing a great job," Supt Sang said.

"He works alongside Nanango and Yarraman police to patrol the area."

But complaints from residents have stemmed from a lack of visual police presence in the town, according to Bernard Sleswick.

Mr Sleswick has lived in Blackbutt for more than nine years and said the town's lack of police presence was "common knowledge".

"What this station needs is someone in the station a lot more," Mr Sleswick said.

"If they don't have a presence, what's the deterrent for criminals?"

He said he wanted to see local police on the streets doing more work.

"This town needs police to be a deterring factor for people having a second or third thought before committing crimes," he said. "Blackbutt needs (a bigger) police presence."

Supt Sang said the police work in Blackbutt had been reducing crime to all-time lows.

"Police have conducted thousands of RBTs in Blackbutt recently, hundreds of pull overs and drug raids," he said.

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Originally published as Call for more cops