Warwick police will have increased uniform presence, beat patrols across CBD

Police in the Southern Downs will have an increased presence across our region’s busier areas in a move that will see an increase in uniformed officers visible. Here’s why.

Queensland Police officers will be more visible in public areas going forward

Going forwards, you will likely see a greater police presence at places like shopping centres and main roads, in a move by police to be more visible.

Police across the Darling Downs will seem more present as beat patrols and uniformed officers in public spaces increase.

The news comes as the nation’s terror threat has risen from possible to probably on Monday, as security is “more volatile and more unpredictable”.

The Australian Federal Police says modern terrorism, particularly extremism, is “enduring, increasingly complex and diversified”.

Even on a local level, brazen daytime robberies with weapons are becoming more common, from appliance stores to big retail chains.

Acting Senior Sergeant Tim Hoffman said the move was simply to “focus on keeping the CBD areas safe”.

“It’s our priority to ensure the relatively safe areas stay safe, as well as reconnect with the community and let our presence be known so everyone feels safer,” he said.

Queensland police as a whole will be focusing on CBD areas due to concerns around crimes being more prevalent in public areas.

“People are worried going to the shops, we want to make people feel safer by seeing us out and about,” Sergeant Hoffman said.

In July, public figures and community stakeholders were briefed on what to do in “unthinkable” situations involving an armed offender.

It’s the situation no one thinks could happen, but the public is remained urged to listen and be ready for any situation.

Warwick Detective Senior Constable Jim Doyle said last month due to recent events, anywhere, including Warwick, could be a possible location of a serious incident and it was easier to take action and create awareness than the opposite.

“Crowded places become vulnerable places, and it’s essential stakeholders and police are all on the same page on how to respond in an incident,” Constable Doyle said.

“Just because Warwick is a nice cold country town full of roses, it couldn’t not one day be the location of something significant, so it is important we do our job and make everyone aware.”