Revesby police station: Canterbury-Bankstown councillor calls for more funding

A suburb in the crossfires of a recent gangland war, which has led to the death of 16 people, needs a return to the heavy police presence which manned the streets during Covid one councillor says.

A suburb in the crossfires of a recent gangland war, which has led to the death of 16 people, needs a return to the heavy police presence which manned the streets during Covid one councillor says.

Canterbury-Bankstown Council unanimously passed a motion, led by Revesby ward councillor Linda Downey, to write to the NSW Police Minister and call for more police resources in Revesby, as well as a repair of the “dilipadated” police station.

Cr Downey told Tuesday’s meeting there was a need to have a strong police presence on the ground.

“We saw them (police) in Covid,” she said. “Why aren’t they still on the ground, enforcing the law, creating a deterrent for people?”

Councillor David Walsh, also of Revesby ward, said he had been disturbed by the recent armed robbery of Lianna Cafe in Panania and was shocked to discover the police station wasn’t being used to its full potential.

Revesby police station, 22 February, 2019. Picture: AAP/Carmela Roche

“The police station is a prominent fixture in the town centre,” he said. “I was surprised to learn it is only used for Highway Patrol.”

Revesby police station, part of Bankstown Police Area Command, is located just a few minutes drive from where Lametta Fadlallah and Amy Houzari were recently shot and killed, and a similar distance to the Panania town centre, where Lianna Cafe owner Siyamak Sharifnejad was attacked during an armed robbery recently.

Labor councillor Linda Downey told the Express before the council meeting the police station was “dilapidated” and “no longer fit for purpose”.

“As far as I’m aware, it’s not a functioning police station in the way that people would expect it to function,” Cr Downey said.

Cr Downey made clear the issue wasn’t with police themselves, but state government funding.

Revesby Police Station on October 2021. The police station was boarded up at the time while refurbishments were underway. Picture: Google

A list of questions were provided to NSW Police, asking the station’s current staffing levels, whether new funding would be welcomed, and if it was in need of a rebuild.

A spokesman for NSW Police responded: “Revesby Police Station operates 24 hours a day and falls within the Bankstown Police Area Command.

“In the past 12 months, the station has undergone significant internal refurbishments to improve the quality of facilities for both police officers and members of the community.”

Revesby police station on February 22, 2019. The station was first built in 1953. Picture: AAP/Carmela Roche

Those refurbishments include a brand-new fit out, upgrades to the police radio system, CCTV, and other unspecified ‘security enhancements’.

The NSW Police spokesman added, “Local policing resources in and around Revesby are well supported by specialist units including the Regional Enforcement Squad, Highway Patrol, Operational Support Group, Strike Force Hawk, Public Order and Riot Squad and State Crime Command.

“As crime trends emerge and change, resourcing and taskings are reviewed in order to ensure the appropriate allocation of police in areas needed most. This flexible approach allows the local crime response to be agile and adaptable to keep the community safe.”

The Express asked Mr Toole whether he was satisfied with the current level of police in Revesby and whether he would consider a funding boost.

“In the past year, Revesby Police Station has undergone significant internal refurbishments,” a spokeswoman from his office said.

“Resourcing is constantly being reviewed to ensure allocations are made to areas that need it most.”