Review local policing, says chamber

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has written to the NSW Police Minister asking that the centralised policing system in the Gosford area be reviewed as part of the NSW Police Audit.

"We voiced a number of concerns sought assurances that the current system would be reviewed as part of the audit process," said chamber president Mr Matthew Wales.

"The business community wants to see more autonomy and resources for policing on the Peninsula including dialogue on the Umina Police shopfront advocated by the Member for Gosford prior to the election."

The letter was written in July in the hope that former NSW Police commissioner Peter Parsons would address the issues in his audit of the police service.

"To date, the Peninsula Chamber has not heard back from either the Police Minister or Mr. Parsons as to how the business community's issues are being dealt in the audit process.

"The Chamber fully backs the audit process, however, there needs to be more engagement with the business community to ensure that our concerns are fully addressed", said Mr Wales.

"With the increase in business activity in the Umina Beach retail centre, the Chamber is keen to ensure that more locally focused police resources are available over the next few years.

"We are not suggesting that the incidence of crime is on the increase but it is important that resources are properly directed so that the Peninsula gets its fair share," he said.

Mr Wales said the chamber was calling for an urgent update on the status of the NSW Police Audit.

Media release, 23 Oct 2011 Matthew Wales, President of the Peninsula Chamber for Commerce