Police would be 'fully-operational' under Liberals

NSW Opposition Leader Mr Peter Debnam and Liberal candidate for Gosford Cr Chris Holstein have committed to a "fully-operational 24-hour Woy Woy Police Station" and to "re-open Umina Police Station".

"The Iemma Government has failed to adequately resource local police and as a result the community is experiencing a crime wave," Mr Debnam said after meeting crime victims in Umina on Monday, January 8.

Mr Debnam said he met with several local residents and business owners who "are fed up with the ongoing vandalism, violence and robbery which has engulfed the community's streets".

"Marie Andrews and the Labor Government has failed to adequately resource the hard-working local police and as a result they can't get the thugs off the street.

"I am serious about addressing crime and giving our police the resources they need to keep the community safe.

"I will do this by upgrading Woy Woy Police Station to a 24-hour fully-operational station and reopening Umina Police Station as a resourced shop-front.

"A Liberal Government will get NSW back in front by giving local police the resources they need to keep the community safe," Mr Debnam said.

Cr Holstein said that after working with the community and extensive lobbying, he was very pleased with Mr Debnam's announcement.

"Since 2003 the Labor Government has cut 19 police officers from Brisbane Water Local Area Command and shut down the Umina Police Station, despite the community's appeals for more local police," Mr Holstein said.

"Today we have met with an elderly lady who has owned a store for 35 years and she is now fearful of being in her own shop, a businessman whose pharmacy has been broken into and vandalized several times and just here we can see the extent of damage inflicted on this local pizza shop by thugs.

"Only a Liberal Government can deliver our hardworking police the resources they need to keep the community safe and clean up our streets."

Cr Holstein said he was interested to hear comments of Labor MP Ms Marie Andrews.

"Ms Andrews was on the radio yesterday afternoon saying that crime on the Woy Woy Peninsula was being driven down," said Cr Holstein.

"If she wants I can introduce her to locals who have real concerns over theft, vandalism, malicious damage, anti-social behaviour and the lack of police."

Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews said that Woy Woy police station was open 24 hours a day.

"It has been suggested today that the Woy Woy police station does not operate on a 24-hour basis, this is incorrect," Ms Andrews said.

"Woy Woy Police station is open 24 hours a day and is one of a number of police stations in the region, which provides a great service protecting the Central Coast communities.

"Police are continuing to work with other agencies to address youth crime issues in the region.

"The NSW Government is committed to making the streets of the Central Coast safe and this is why we are providing record police numbers.

"The authorised police strength for the Brisbane Water Local Area Command, as at October, was 221, which is almost 30 per cent higher than when the Coalition was last in power.

"The actual number of police in the Local Area Command is even higher than that - currently 233.

"Since 2003 the Local Area Command has received 26 probationary constables.

"The NSW Police Force will also be boosted with another 750 police, when they graduate from the Goulburn Police College in Goulburn.

"The NSW Government is continuing to provide police with the tough powers resources and support they need to keep the community safe."

Press releases, 8-9 Jan 2007 Peter Debnam, NSW Opposition leader Marie Andrews, Member for Peats