Gold Coast crime: Secret report recommends relocating POLAIR helicopter to Brisbane

There are fears the Gold Coast will lose its police helicopter after claims a secret report has recommended it be moved to Brisbane.

THE state Opposition is demanding the crime-busting POLAIR chopper service stays on the Gold Coast after uncovering a secret “review” proposing it move elsewhere.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor, who tabled a question on it in State Parliament yesterday, said the existence of the report had been confirmed to him after he lodged a Freedom of Information request.

The report, titled ‘Strategic Review of Queensland Police Service POLAIR’, was prepared by aviation consultant Tyron de Boer and is before the Cabinet Budget Review Committee.

POLAIR One has been based in Carrara since 2011. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Mr O’Connor said he was concerned about recommendations in the report, not being made available to the public.

“It is all a bit of a secret at the moment. If plans go ahead to relocate POLAIR One it would have significant consequences for the Gold Coast.

“It’s a service that most Gold Coasters see regularly up in the sky as a police presence.

“It is not only a deterrent but amazing resource for our officers and revolutionises policing. It cannot be relocated to other places like Archerfield.

“You could argue there should be an increase in the hours the Surf Life Saving chopper does.

LNP MPs Bonney MP Sam O'Connor. (Photo/Steve Holland)

From what I have seen there is certainly a need to increase it.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan declined to answer questions about the contents of the report but said it would stay on the Gold Coast: “POLAIR is a great resource for promoting community safety on the Gold Coast.

“The Queensland Police Service advises POLAIR will remain on the Gold Coast.”

Queensland Police Service refused to comment.

POLAIR One was deployed on Sunday to successfully track an alleged bikie associate on a high-speed chase on the Coast. later charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle and evade police.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll and Minister for Police Mark Ryan. (AAP Image/Claudia Baxter)

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LNP leader Deb Frecklington: “Labor need to guarantee vital police resources aren’t taken away from the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast needs more police resources, not less but unfortunately that is what local residents have become used to under the soft-on-crime Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“It’s very hard for local police to crackdown on car crime, local hooning and property offences when vital police resources are taken away.”

POLAIR One, based in Carrara, was launched on the Gold Coast in 2011 after then-Mayor Ron Clarke lobbied for it.

Queensland Police will continue to fight crime from the sky for until at least July 2022, following a $29.9 million funding commitment from the State Government in 2016.