Remember when: Future senator Mal Colston revealed Gold Coast crime had gone up in 1971-72

Gold Coast crime figures were up and local police staff strength was down according to Dr Mal Colston.

Gold Coast History: Gold Coast Bulletin 1972, October 6.

Gold Coast Bulletin, Friday October 6, 1972.

Gold Coast crime figures were up and local police staff strength was down.

This was the shocking fact disclosed at a Surfers Paradise meeting when Dr Mal Colston, director of the planning and research section of the Queensland police force, released crime statistics for the Gold Coast with comparisons on all Australian figures.

The meeting was attended by local police, businessman, Gold Coast Mayor Sir Bruce Small, MLA and Country Party MP Russ Hinze.

The figures showed that Gold Coast police strength per population ratio, estimated on the Gold Coast's permanent population was one to 731.

That compared with the Australian average of one to 606, the Queensland average of one to 598 and the NSW average of one to 614.

The Northern Territory, with its wide open spaces, had the best average of one to 330.

Figures for the Gold Coast did not take into account holiday crown buildups which often more than doubled the population.

Gold Coast District police chief Inspector P Barnett said the figures represented an improved crime detection rate for the city.

Although crime had increased over the period, police had managed to solve practically the same percentage.

Gold Coast Mayor Sir Bruce Small suggested the figures should not be given to the press “because criminals would learn of the area’s reputation”.

From the rear of the room a plain clothed police officer called out “they already know”.

The mayor said he believed the way to get increased police was to prepare a brief and present it “at the appropriate level”.