Police would be 'visible' under Liberals

The Peninsula could expect a larger police presence and tougher policing under a Liberal State Government, according to Shadow Police Minister Mr Mike Gallacher.

Speaking on a visit to the Peninsula with Liberal candidate Cr Chris Holstein, Mr Gallacher said he would commit to a visible police presence on the Peninsula and to reform the police structure.

"What I have seen, since the pulling away of resources in this area, is a steady increase in anti-social behavior and street crime," said Mr Gallacher, a former police officer.

"The government's police structure is not conducive to the police being able to tackle street crime.

"Until they admit they have got the structure wrong by pulling cops out of the Woy Woy Peninsula, they won't be able to get on top of the problem."

Mr Gallacher said the relocation of some of the area's police force to Gosford had been bad for the Peninsula.

"They need street directories to find their way around," Mr Gallacher said.

"Police are now spending more time responding to crime than preventing."

Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews refuted Mr Gallacher's claims that police resources had been taken out of the Peninsula.

Woy Woy Police Station operated 24 hrs per day, seven days a week, she said.

Ms Andrews said it was the Liberal Party that removed police from Ettalong when they were last in power.

Under the Labor Government the authorised strength of Brisbane Water LAC has increased from 173 in 1994 to 221 in 2006.

"This represents an increase of 48 authorised police officers or 27.7 per cent," said Ms Andrews.

Lyle Stone, July 12 Press release, July 20 Marie Andrews, Member for Peats