Police response to callouts ‘streamlined’

Smaller teams of police will do the work of many officers as the state’s police service streamlines to address a spike in crime.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has given insight into how changes will affect the way the state’s officers respond to routine call-outs.

Ms Carroll and Assistant Commissioner Cameron Harsley told Nine News the move was “a game changer” that had been driven by a spike in crime.

The new “streamlined” changes will see those callers not in immediate danger to be attended by smaller police crews, with the commissioner suggesting one or two officers could carry out the work of multiple members.

“Can the forensics officer do a lot more – can they deliver those other messages or ask any additional questions?” she said.

“Then you increase your capacity to have those officers do other things.”

While this might cause staffing concerns for those operations who needed more boots on the ground, Mr Harsley assured Queenslanders those who needed “personal service” at crime scenes would not go unanswered.

“There are some vulnerable people, elderly people that actually need police attendance for reassurance – we’re not going to forget about those people,” he said.

The changes will also see increased specialled resources in certain crime “hot spots”, an example being more family counsellors being present in domestic-violence-prone areas.

“The way policing occurs in Mount Isa is different to the Gold Coast – what the community wants is very different,” he said.

The changes are being trialled in the Moreton Bay region.