Northern beaches: Call for more cops to tackle drug crime, assaults
A call has been made for more police to be deployed in the north of the peninsula following fears in the community that drug-related crime and assaults are on the increase.
Manly
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More police are needed in the north peninsula, according to a northern beaches councillor who claims drug-related crime and assaults are increasing.
Cr Vincent De Luca told Northern Beaches Council on Tuesday that “welfare and youth officers have never seen it so bad in relation to drug offences and assaults”.
There have been several serious incidents in the north of the peninsula in the past couple
of months including the alleged stabbing of a 17-year-old in Newport last month.
The alleged victim had to have emergency surgery for stab wounds to his abdomen and arm.
Two teenage boys, aged 16 and 17, have been charged in relation to the alleged attack on July 23.
In another incident four teenagers were charged with the alleged assault of a senior police officer in the carpark of a McDonald’s in Warriewood in June.
And, earlier this month a police strike force smashed an alleged drug syndicate seizing drugs and weapons including a replica gun, crossbow and prohibited knife from the home of a man from Newport.
Cr De Luca told the council chamber the community is “currently experiencing great anxiety particularly north of Narrabeen Bridge”.
“With the increase in crime, stabbings, serious assaults on children, serious assaults on people, as well as the assault on a senior inspector, has alarmed our community,” he told the meeting.
He said a petition, which has more than 2000 signatures, is calling upon the Minister for Police to ensure that there is a greater number of police throughout the northern part of the northern beaches. The petition is also calling for Mona Vale police station to be fully operational, with more staff and facilities that allowed offenders to be held.
Cr De Luca told the council chamber that police officers have told him that if they arrest anyone in the north of the peninsula they have to take the person to either Chatswood or Manly to process, which takes a lot of time.
However, police say the station is open 24/7 and is always manned, although it cannot house offenders who have to be processed elsewhere.
Cr De Luca said in the last police report there was a line to say local crime statistics are indicating a downward trend overall, but it did not say what types of crime or show a breakdown of figures.
He said he wanted to see figures on domestic violence, drugs and assaults because he was hearing from worried constituents on these matters.
He asked the council to request the information.
He said he believes up-to-date crime statistics will support his argument and that of other members of the community, as well as police officers who have confided in him, “that we need an increase in police presence in the area particularly north of the bridge”.
Northern Beaches Crime Manager Michael Boutouridis told the Manly Daily there was an issue with drug and alcohol related crime, as well as mental health related issues, not just in the north of the peninsula but across the whole area.
He said he believes the levels are consistent and he was not aware they have increased.
The council agreed to request more detailed crime statistics from police.