Murwillumbah: Residents call for 24-hour police station
A Northern Rivers community is campaigning for a 24-hour police station after a recent string of incidents in Murwillumbah, including an attack on a local officer. See why the residents want change.
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Murwillumbah residents are calling for a manned 24-hour police station in the town after a string of incidents, including a man charged with trying to drown an officer at a local creek.
Resident Cheryl McDonald said she was appalled by the latest incident involving a police officer, labelling it “absolutely disgraceful”.
“I have never heard such a thing happening in Murwillumbah. It makes me sick,” she said.
Her husband Ronald said: “This sort of thing never happens in Murwillumbah, this could be easily resolved with increased police presence in the area”.
Gabrielle Farrow, who works at the Murwillumbah pet shop directly opposite the police station, said a manned 24-hour station would be good for the town’s security.
“I see people come every day and press the call button for a good half-an-hour (waiting for help),” Ms Farrow said.
“If they need an issue resolved, they contact Tweed Heads Police station, which is roughly half-an-hour away.”
Local Kaylene Binding said it was hard to contact local police, and she held concerns about women’s safety in the town.
“They come down to do the rounds, and they’re not even there (in the station),” Ms Binding said.
“A 24-hour police station wouldn’t hurt, especially in winter (when it’s dark) walking down to the car park.
“Everyone looks out for each other because there’s no police. If a young person was getting harassed, someone would step in.”
Resident Glenna Watkins backs the push for a 24-hour police station at Murwillumbah.
“ll the horrid people know it’s not manned all the time and would be deterred from committing crimes if it was,” Ms Watkins said.
State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin recently moved a motion in parliament regarding the issue.
“The NSW Government is negligent on not implementing their longstanding promise of a 24-hour police station in Murwillumbah,” Ms Saffin said.
“Locals are absolutely right. There is a shortage of police in Murwillumbah and Tweed Valley, they deserve an around-the-clock police service … I am fighting to get the job done on a 24/7 police presence in Murwillumbah.”
Deputy Premier and Police Minister Paul Toole said the Murwillumbah area is patrolled by police 24/7.
“The station operates on a 24-hour basis during peak periods on Fridays and Saturdays and for 20.5 hours every other day,” Mr Toole said.
“Officers attached to the Tweed/Byron Police District, as well as highway patrol officers and other specialist commands, police the Murwillumbah area at all times.
“We are delivering on the biggest increase in police numbers across the state in more than 30 years.
“The Tweed Byron Police District received an increase of 11 positions in the last four years.”
The latest allocation of new recruits shows there are no new police for the Tweed/Byron district, and there has been a drop in police numbers from 198 officers in 2012 to 181 officers in 2022.
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