Gold Coast light rail: crime rates at light rail stations with Broadbeach the least safe.
REPORTED crime has increased by a staggering 400 per cent at some light rail stations. New data reveals the safest stations as well as those where thefts are most likely to occur.
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REPORTED crime has increased by a staggering 400 per cent at some light rail stations, but the Government says the climb reflects deliberate targeting of offenders by police.
Latest statistics highlighting hot spots provide some surprises, with the safest station at Parkwood East (no reported crime) and the worst at Broadbeach.
Helensvale, the Gold Coast University Hospital and Griffith University, which lie on the second stage of the tram route, were also the safest destinations.
Broadbeach was the worst for offences, particularly at its southern station where theft remains a problem, along with the Southport CBD and Surfers Paradise stations where the most offenders were being caught.
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Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey, who was concerned about security after exposing big increases in fare evasion, sought a breakdown of crime figures from the Government for each station during 2017-18.
Southport and Southport South station figures combined showed a jump from 17 reported crimes to 68 incidents in the last financial year, she said.
“That is a staggering increase of 400 per cent which is completely unacceptable. Broadbeach South figures almost doubled and Cavill Avenue went from 15 reports in 2015-16 to 40 during the same time,” Ms Stuckey said.
“These latest figures are truly worrying. It seems Gold Coast G:link stations are being viewed as soft targets. Security needs to be beefed up.”
Worst stations for offences were Broadbeach South (78), Cavill Avenue (40), Southport (38), Southport South (30) and Surfers Paradise North (18).
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By comparison, Parkwood East recorded no reported crime, Griffith University had seven offences and Helensvale recorded nine.
Police Minister Mark Ryan cautioned that police conducted regular surveillance with TransLink and the light rail service, which was reflected in the data.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey told the Bulletin: “Once again Jann Stuckey and the LNP are attacking light rail on the Gold Coast.
“If Ms Stuckey had simply inquired, she would know the increase in reported crimes at these stations is directly related to a substantial increase in active police patrols.
“More offenders are being caught for offences such as unruly or drunken behaviour due to more patrols.
“At Southport and Southport South, 50 of the 68 reported crimes were good order offences such as public disorder, nuisance and abusive language detected by uniformed officers acting to protect passengers and keep them safe.”
A dedicated senior network officer patrol base at Southport provided a presence on the network to target fare evasion and anti-social behaviour on all modes of public transport, he said.
Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow said the biggest challenge for authorities around CBD light rail stations was crowded seating.
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“The problem is we have people hanging around too much. What they’re doing is taking all the seating,” she said.
Broadbeach councillor Paul Taylor said he organised increased CCTV coverage after complaints were made about crime hot spots at some stations.
“I put the cameras up there about six months ago and I haven’t heard anything since. We have a lot of cameras around Broadbeach now — the more the merrier,” he said.
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