'Stretched to the limit': Calls for help surge on Gold Coast as police numbers drop in party precincts

Cop numbers in party hotspots have dropped - despite calls for police help increasing by 7000 in two years.

Cop numbers in party hotspots have dropped despite calls for police help increasing by 7000 in two years.

Data released by Police Minister Mark Ryan shows 18,417 calls were made in Broadbeach in 2020-21, up 20 per cent on the 15,395 made in 2018-19.

In Surfers Paradise, it jumped from 13,394 to 17,223 in the same period.

In a response to a Question on Notice in Parliament on May 3, Mr Ryan admitted the number of full-time officers across the two suburbs had gone from 173 in 2019 to 171.

Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek said: “The reason people in the suburbs of (my) electorate are not getting the services they expect from their police is because of the amount of work that our police service have to deal with.

“No wonder our police are under pressure. No wonder people in the suburbs cannot get the services they deserve.”

A Bulletin investigation last month revealed the neighbouring Southport CBD had no police crews on a Friday night, sparking a safety crisis in which officers were brought in on overtime from other stations.

Mr Ryan told the Bulletin: “The placement of police officers to individual police stations is a matter for the local QPS District Officer free of political interference, just as it should be.

“I am advised that the number of police officers permanently based on the Gold Coast has risen each year since the government came to power and that will continue to be the case.

“There are now more than 1,000 police officers permanently based on the Gold Coast, including those based at the recently opened new police facility at Pimpama.”

Southport does not have enough police for crews on peak Friday night

MARCH: The Southport CBD had no crews rostered during a peak period on a Friday night, sparking a safety crisis in which officers were brought in on overtime from other stations.

The Bulletin has been told the shortage a week ago caused 32 hours of overtime to be used to get four officers on two crews on the road in one of the city’s toughest police beats.

Southport Police Station. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Police sources say there is a rostering crisis, and it creates safety concerns for both officers and residents because no back-up can occur if a single crew attends a major incident.

“Staffing levels on the Gold Coast are at breaking point,” a source said. “Southport Police station in particular cannot put crews on the road due to staffing shortages and the current rostering practices.

“This requires crews from other areas such as Coomera and Surfers Paradise to be sent into Southport to police the area. This has been identified as an officer safety risk and risk to the community.”

Some police are critical of their union’s position on rostering and want more back-up.

Officers are divided on whether police should work 10 hours or revert to eight-hour shifts.

“Minimal staff are available due to the poor rostering practices at that station and officers working 10 hour shifts,” a police source said.

A hangover from Covid border policing, in which officers are using up banked holiday leave while others are on sick days, has added to the roster shortfalls.

Southport police beat: officers at the scene of a shooting. Picture Glenn Hampson.

Queensland Police Union South-Eastern representative Andy Williams said the union had long pushed for minimum staffing numbers for shifts at Southport, which ensured at least two crews were on duty particularly on busy shifts.

“Obviously during this pandemic with many police sick, in quarantine and in isolation, the QPU supports police being called in on overtime to work shifts to ensure minimum staffing numbers, which keeps both the community and police safe,” Mr Williams said.

“Unfortunately, management at Southport Police Station, without understanding the law, last week tried to arbitrarily alter shifts and rosters.

“The QPU intervened and the District Officer, Acting Chief Superintendent Wildman, sent out an email retracting the incorrect directions from Southport Police Station management.”

Southport police beat: officers attend Southport Court in numbers after Bikie members were arrested overnight and were appearing in court. Pics Adam Head.

A QPS spokesperson admitted staffing figures changed but there was sufficient staff and resources to deliver professional policing services at Southport.

“Divisions and districts, similar to any organisation, experience movement and changes in

employees as people successfully seek transfers or promotions or are impacted by sickness and

injury, with Southport division being no different,” the QPS spokesperson said.

“The service regularly reviews population growth, crime trends and service delivery requirements to ensure a fair and equitable policing service is provided throughout the state.”

The spokesperson said the Coast district had a “good working relationship with the unions”.

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