Burleigh police crackdown: Extra officers sent into suburb

Police say they are redirecting officers to under-pressure Burleigh amid a burgeoning party scene and a wave of petty crime affecting businesses. Full details.

Police say they are pumping extra resources into Burleigh – but a permanent police beat is not on the table.

The Bulletin recently reported how businesses on James St were eager for a greater police presence amid a wave of petty crime and anti-social behaviour, while criminologist Terry Goldsworthy on Tuesday said a police beat should be a priority for the area.

Speaking to media on Tuesday, Acting Superintendent Scott Knowles said Gold Coast police were already pouring extra resources into the suburb.

“We’re well ahead on that. We already know that the emerging entertainment precinct down there has been emerging for some time now and will certainly grow with the light rail process,” he said.

“Gold Coast police have already put in place plans around rolling additional police into that space. In fact we’ve been doing it now for probably a month, having police down there for when those entertainment precincts are up and running.”

James Street in Burleigh Heads. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

Burleigh was a focus of the recent Operation Whiskey Legion, which saw police resources surged into the Gold Coast from outside the district to crack down on crime in known hot spots.

Acting Supt Knowles said police were also looking at conducting wanding operations there to detect people carrying knives under an expansion of Jack’s Law.

“We’re also looking at utilising the amendments to Jack’s Law to see how do we use the wanding opportunities that we have in those precincts,” he said. “Once those legislative changes come through we’ll certainly be doing that.

“But we’ve already started pushing police into those precincts now during those peak calls for service periods when the entertainment precincts are running.”

A man trying to smash the front of the Cellarbrations bottle shop on West St in Burleigh.

Senior Constable Tara Neiland with 'Nitro' and Senior Constable Simon Shilton with 'Stormy' at Burleigh Heads on Friday April 26. Picture: Keith Woods.

However he said a permanent police beat in the heart of Burleigh was not on the cards at this stage.

“Police beats are a complicated process,” he said. “We get more flexibility from our people when we can deploy them when they’re required and where they’re required.

“Police beats bring with them a number of industrial complications which actually reduces their flexibility.”