Liberals pledge 25 more police

A Liberal/Nationals Coalition Government would assign an another 25 police officers to Woy Woy police station to guarantee a "24/7" operation, according to the Shadow Minister for Police, Mr Mike Gallacher.

"A Debnam-led Government will also reopen the Umina police station which (Member for Peats) Marie Andrews closed," Mr Gallacher said.

Liberal candidate for Gosford Cr Chris Holstein said the community wanted Umina station to remain open, "yet Labor failed to listen, instead stripping Gosford of resources in another example of Labor's cost cutting".

"Ms Andrews believes we are better off having more police out on the 'beat' but has allowed police resources to spiral downwards.

"Alarmingly, since 2003, Brisbane Water Local Area Command has lost 21 officers.

"The continued loss of police from our region shows how Labor has failed to resource the Central Coast," Cr Holstein said.

"Ms Andrews can spin all she likes but the cuts to local police have all been on her watch," Mr Gallacher said.

"Cr Holstein said the community has had enough with the complacent attitude of this Government and Labor's failure to take community concerns seriously.

"I will continue to work with Mike to ensure Labor is held accountable and to ensure the Central Coast gets the resources we deserve," Mr Holstein said.

"After 12 long years, enough is enough.

"NSW needs change and that requires a new Government," Mr Gallacher said.

Ms Andrews said the Liberal candidates on the Central Coast should congratulate the officers of the Brisbane Water LAC rather than trying to "whip up hysteria" over crime rates.

"Police in the region are continuing to drive down crime," Ms Andrews said.

"The latest figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics show that in the Gosford-Wyong area, in the two years to September 2006, two major categories of crime had fallen and all but one other remained stable.

"According to the BOCSAR figures car theft had fallen almost 14 per cent and the crime of 'steal from person' has plunged 22 per cent."

Ms Andrews said 236 police were stationed within the command, which was "actually above the authorised strength".

"On top of that, the LAC has just received eight probationary constables who have graduated from the Goulburn Police College," Ms Andrews said.

Press release, 20 Feb 2007 Chris Holstein, Liberal candidate for Gosford