Cumberland Council pushes for more action from NSW Police

A western Sydney council has accused local police for lacking urgency and “fobbing off” calls for help. But not everyone agrees the cops are the problem.

Granville Police Station Picture: Tom Parrish

Cumberland councillors have lashed out at police for failing to respond to calls for assistance.

The heated debate was sparked when Libertarian councillor Steve Christou called for the council to investigate how many council assets had been damaged in the aftermath of New Year’s Eve when a 17-year-old was stabbed at Guildford and illegal fireworks damaged multiple parks.

He also called for investigations into the total cost of repairs and how long it took council staff to clean the mess.

The motion, which also looked into discussions between police and the council, prompted Our Local Community councillor Paul Garrard to hit out at police and the council for their “lack of co-ordination”.

“I don’t believe there’s been enough effort by the police, and I don’t think there’s been enough follow-through in anticipation of that problem at the council,’’ he said.

Paul Garrard. Picture: Keri Megelus

An illegal fireworks show at Guildford on December 31. Picture: TikTok

He cited a 40-person brawl at Byrnes St South Granville in February.

“That is a simple example where the community has been hammering the police,’’ he said.

“I know councillors have been hammering the police. We don’t expect that to be happening in our streets but it’s happening.’’

He claimed the community was upset with police because “nearly everyone’s got an example of something that happened where they just don’t turn up’’.

“But there’s no transparency with what happens with the police and why they don’t turn up and maybe there’s a great reason but we need to know that,” he said.

Labor councillor Glenn Elmore said illegal fireworks were discussed in September and the supply chain needed to be disrupted.

Illegal fireworks caused damage to multiple Cumberland Council parks. Picture: Facebook

One of the damaged cricket pitches. Picture: Facebook

Liberal councillor Joseph Rahme echoed Cr Garrard’s remarks and called for “top-to-top meetings” between council staff and cops “to let them know they’re not reacting and fobbing off calls that they’re receiving”.

“Because I know for a fact that the urgency isn’t there,” he said.

He accused the police of failing to respond to calls about trail bikes, fireworks and cars parked illegally in the driveway for more than a week when police told a person complaining to “ring the council”.

“Now last time I checked, if the car’s registered, council can’t move the car,’’ Cr Rahme said.

“Last time I checked fireworks are illegal. Last time I checked a 14-year-old popping a wheelie on a trail bike in front of a highway patrol car is breaking the law, regardless of the public liability threats that may generate.’’

But independent Ahmed Oufsaid the police could not solve the problem following the New Year’s Eve disaster.

Part of the clean up after the rogue fireworks display. Picture: Facebook

“You need more than just the police that we have in the whole of Sydney in order to control the tens of thousands that were on the street, at least that night,’’ he said.

“The kids, they want to celebrate, and I look at the alternative. Do we have a legal way to celebrate?

“Let’s come up with something because we have a young vibrant community.

“There’s no way on earth you can shut down what they’re doing but at least regulate something legal.’’

Along with the knife attack at Bright Park in Guildford on New Year’s Eve, louts destroyed at least nine parks when they let off illegal fireworks including at Horlyck Reserve at South Granville and Greystanes Sports Ground.

NSW Police declined to respond to questions and said a freedom of information request would need to be filed to find out how many calls Cumberland police responded to that night.

Cumberland and Auburn police area commands cover the Cumberland local government area.

Originally published as Cumberland Council pushes for more action from NSW Police