Sick leave and poor morale leaves Gold Coast police district on its knees
SENIOR Gold Coast coppers Terry Borland and Michelle Stenner are again on extended sick leave joining a wave of ill staff causing stress for work rosters on the Glitter Strip.
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TOP Gold Coast cops Terry Borland and Michelle Stenner are again on extended sick leave as the number of ill staff on the beat starts to bite the Glitter Strip.
The superintendents, who had just returned from previous leave after the launch of a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation, left their Surfers Paradise offices this week.
The Queensland Police Service expect both officers to return but their leave could be extended for up to two months with their certificates covering the period to November.
QPS senior management believes the Coast has adequate resources to meet staff shortages but Surfers Paradise and northern growth suburbs like Coomera and Runaway Bay continue to face roster problems.
“The whole of the district is literally on its knees. It has ground to a halt,” an experienced officer said.
The Bulletin can reveal:
* Police staff levels are being impacted by the Commonwealth Games with officers compensating for marathon shifts next April.
* At least 50 officers are not reporting for work, either on sick leave, maternity or recreation leave.
* The Surfers Paradise station roster continues to be impacted in terms of assigning police on the beat.
The QPS said the roles of Chief Superintendent Borland and Superintendent Stenner were being covered and it was “anticipated they will return to their substantive roles”.
Surfers Paradise bar and nightclub lobby leader Tim Martin said the Safe Night Precinct’s committee would meet this week to discuss the need for more police.
“The security teams have managed the problems but it possibly became more than it should have without police,” he said. “I would suggest we have been very lucky. This situation is a ticking time bomb.”
Mr Martin said the Palaszczuk Government needed to have a rethink about Coast policing.
“I’m not telling them how to do their job but we are a precinct under a lot of scrutiny, we are the biggest precinct and if we only have one cop crew on at times then what’s the staffing like everywhere else.”
Bond University criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy said he was concerned about patrols in Surfers Paradise given “on paper” there were 120 officers.
The QPS declined to discuss the number of officers on leave but maintained there would be a “consistent policing presence on the beat” in Surfers Paradise.
“The Queensland Police Service is committed to keeping the people of the Gold Coast safe and will always ensure a strong police presence in Surfers Paradise,” the statement said.
The QPS acknowledged “responsible management of weekend units” was needed to ensure co coverage for major events.
LNP Broadwater candidate David Crisafulli, who first raised concerns about staffing at Runaway Bay station, said the crisis was due to resourcing and morale.
“Sadly, we have a police service that is being stretched to plug gaps and are often dealing with the same offenders they’ve arrested previously who are back on the streets because of a weak on crime attitude from the State Government.”
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