Parramatta police station closes, cops move to Wentworthville

As Parramatta cop shop closes to make way for a new $30m facility, community fears are rising about the absence of the force in the CBD, but police say that won’t be the case. Here’s why.

As Parramatta police station closes to make way for a new $30 million cop shop, community fears are rising about the absence of the force in the CBD but police insist it “won’t be a ghost town of police”.

The 48-year-old station, which houses 160 staff, shut on Monday, when general duty cops transferred to Wentworthville while other officers, including detectives and prosecutors, will be dispersed in the Parramatta CBD.

The smaller Wentworthville station 5km away was shut on weekends and only open from 8am to 5pm on weekdays but is now open 24 hours.

Parramatta independent councillor Kellie Darley expressed concerns the station’s closure had not been well publicised and domestic violence victims did not feel comfortable travelling to Wentworthville.

“My fear is that they turn up and there’s nothing there (at Parramatta) and then the extra hassle of having to go to another police station is a concern, so I’m just been sure it’s been widely publicised enough,’’ she said.

“One post on Facebook to say it’s closed is not enough communication.’’

Wentworthville police station will house Parramatta general duties cops.

Cr Darley acknowledged that more crime was reported online and by phone but said several women still attended in person and it was “highly concerning because you’re just in a highly-stressed, highly emotional state and to then have to think about getting to Wentworthville or Granville, they’re not the closest”.

“There’s a comfort in knowing they’re there.’’

She said a suggestion to use a pop-up station did not eventuate for security reasons but the council was still in discussions with police.

NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data shows that between October 2020 and September 2021, there were 1437 assaults under postcode 2150.

The assaults comprised 546.3 domestic violence incidents, 782.7 non domestic violence-related cases and 108 assaults on police.

Parramatta is known as Sydney’s second CBD. Picture: Damian Shaw

There were 2.7 murders and 244.6 sexual offences.

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger questioned how the community could be served when police were based remotely.

“I think it is important to have a visible presence on the street and to be walking around,’’ he said.

“You can do that from another location but will that be minimised over time just because of the inconvenience factor of travelling between Parramatta?

“You can have people drive to Parramatta and service the city but getting into the city is quite congested now. The travel times can be hard to get into the CBD but my question would be how they can compensate.’’

John Chammas, who owns Mamas & Papa’s on Church St, calls police “all the time” for fights and “junkies” in the CBD.

“It’s the standard thing that happens in any CBD area where you get people that are drunk, on drugs and just making a nuisance of themselves at different restaurants, especially along Church St,’’ he said.

Business is returning to Church St but it still attracts anti-social behaviour, much which John Chammas witnesses. Picture: John Appleyard

“But it doesn't matter whether we call them because it takes them an hour to get here anyway. Whether they’re in Parramatta or bloody Katoomba, it doesn’t make a difference.’’

Parramatta crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Barnes quelled concerns that crime would rise in the “congested” CBD.

“While it’s certainly got key focus points in terms of the rail transport corridors and shopping areas, crime is generally spread quite evenly across the command; it is certainly not solely based in the Parramatta CBD area — although we do undertake a large number of proactive tasks and interventions in the Parramatta CBD,’’ he said.

“We have no expectation that will change, including because of the volume of people that come here. Regardless of where the police start and finish from, the focus of their activities and patrols will continue to be based on intelligence and other operational needs, including our highly visible and effective bike team, who will spend the vast majority of their time in the area) as they always have.’’

Insp Barnes said other police resource, including the Police Transport Command, were based in Parramatta and “it would not become a ghost town of police”.

Parramatta crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Barnes.

The station at the corner of Marsden and Phillip streets is expected to be completed in early 2024 and will be funded under the government’s $108 million multi-purposed police station program.

The revamp is expected to house 200 staff and include the expansion of the carpark facing Phillip St.

“There’s a lot of benefits that flow from a new police station as opposed to one that was designed in 1970, which is what we currently have,’’ Inspector Barnes said.

“At the end of it we can have a state-of-the art facility which will not only be new and better equipped but will be designed to better accommodate not only the police but victims in terms of interview facilities, a more comfortable environment, a more welcoming environment.’’

Parramatta Women’s Shelter manager Tania Smith reminded domestic violence victims that incidents could be reported at any police station or to call triple-0 for emergencies.

The police station is expected to open in 2024.

MORE NEWS

Youth violence in western Sydney: Blacktown epicentre of teenage attacks

Oatlands: Abdallah family expecting a baby girl on March 21