Off-duty police to join council security patrols

Gosford Council will fund after-hours security patrols staffed by off-duty police officers targeting "hotspots" in an effort to lessen crime.

Mayor Cr Chris Holstein said the patrols are about taking a "proactive" role.

"It culminates from a frustration with the inability to increase police numbers by the State Government," he said.

Cr Holstein said there were several targeted areas city-wide.

Although loath to "telegraph" to potential perpetrators the council's plans of when and where the patrols would take place, he said: "We are moving post-haste to start.

"The patrols are going to be all over the place.

"If you don't do anything wrong, you don't need to worry."

Last month Cr Holstein called for a greater police presence in an attempt to stop vandalism at Umina Surf Club.

Cr Holstein said off-duty police would have a greater understanding of how to perform the patrols than normal council rangers.

Council's director of development and the environment, Mr John Murray, said the NSW Police Service had no objections to council employing off-duty police as casual council rangers.

"Inquiry has indicated that there is an adequate number of local officers who are interested in the casual positions," he said.

Mr Murray said it was initially proposed to conduct a routine one six-hour patrol on Friday and Saturday starting at 8pm and finishing at 2am.

"Each patrol would consist of a ranger and casual ranger operating from a vehicle fitted with a police radio, mobile phone and council radio," he said.

"The patrols will target identified locations where vandalism and graffiti has been a problem."

Under the proposal each officer would be issued with a baton, baton holder, handcuffs, handcuff holder, Mag Lite torch, torch holder, an inner belt and utility belt.

The three-month trial has an estimated budget of $11,300.

Apart from the routine patrols, council will also have "hoodlum patrols", which would target the hotspots.

The hoodlum patrols will target areas exposed to anti-social behaviour and may not be conducted every week.

The cost of the hoodlum patrols is estimated to be $4164.

State Member for Peats, Ms Marie Andrews, said police numbers had increased on the Central Coast over the past few years.

"Since coming to government in 1995, NSW Police numbers have increased significantly," she said.

"The State Government has undertaken to increase those numbers by 2000 in the next couple of years.

"In the meantime, the police assistance lines have been set up for minor crimes, freeing-up officers to be in the community.

"The police service is now more mobile."

Ms Andrews said an example of the new police structure was the incident at the Colonial Village Bakery in Woy Woy.

"Contrary to media reports, six cars arrived at the scene and two arrests were made," she said.

"Also, a third person was questioned the following day.

"This wouldn't have happened in the old days (of the previous structure before changes brought on by the Royal Commission)."

A proprietor of the bakery, who did not want to be named, said she was pleased with the police response but thought the old system was better.

She said her brother had to contend with being assaulted for about 10 minutes while police arrived.

"My husband had run to the police station to seek help, but there was only one guy on duty and he couldn't leave his post," she said.

"Before there would have been five or six officers at the station."

Carl Spears, December 8