Police Association of Tasmania president Pat Allen calls on Hodgman Government to honour pre-poll pledges to bolster service

TASMANIA’S police union has called on the new Hodgman Government to honour its pre-poll pledges to restore the service.

Police Association of Tasmania president Pat Allen has called on the new Hodgman Governme

IT’S time for more police on the beat and it has to happen now, says the Police Association of Tasmania.

It has called on the new State Government to restore the Public Order Response Team as a priority.

Before he was even sworn in as Police Minister, Rene Hidding was under pressure from Police Association president Pat Allen to commit to pre-election pledges to restore frontline police numbers and reinstate the team that tackled anti-social behaviour in entertainment precincts.

“It is a high priority for us as we know it is a high priority for the public, too, and that team will also provide support to the front-line,” Mr Allen said.

He said his members had been watching with interest as NSW’s alcohol laws were ­implemented, including strict lockouts in the Sydney CBD to curb alcohol-fuelled ­violence.

Tasmania Police patrolling Hobart’s waterfront district in an effort to curb alcohol-fuelled violence.

“It’s something we have been promoting for a while and we have a close association with the NSW Police Association,’’ Mr Allen said.

“We support what they’ve done and they support us. Anecdotally, so far the new laws seem to have been a success and we know their Last Drinks campaign worked.’’

Mr Hidding said the Government intended to keep its election commitments.

“The Government is in discussions with the Police Commissioner about implementing our policy to restore the ­number of sworn officers to 1228,” he said. “This would include the creation of the Serious and Organised Crime Squad and Public Order Response Team.

“It is our intention to implement this policy as quickly as possible. Tasmanians deserve to have a properly resourced police service and that is ex­actly what the Liberals will ­deliver.”

Mr Allen also called on the new Government to boost resources in other areas.

“The Government’s commitment to form a Serious and Organised Crime unit needs to be delivered immediately,” he said.

Police Commissioner Darren Hine said planning was under way addressing how the bolstered force would be achieved.