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The Queensland Police Service has announced new police officer growth allocations for the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday Region. A total of 20 extra police positions have been allocated this financial year with Academy training and recruitment efforts at record levels.
In addition, 28 new police vehicles have been allocated to Central Region, 17 of which have been allocated to Mackay Whitsunday District (vehicle allocation includes Bowen, Clermont, Mackay, Moranbah, Sarina, and Whitsunday).
The extra police positions will be allocated across the area in various capacities. This includes assigning five additional police officers to the Mackay Tactical Crime Squad, along with three additional police officers for the Mackay Police Station. Within the Mackay Police Station, the Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU) will see an addition of one police officer.
Two extra police officers will be allocated to the Mackay Northern Beaches Police Station, while the Bowen Police Station will receive four additional police officers. In Moranbah, one additional general duties police officer and one extra police officer for Moranbah Scenes of Crime will be assigned. The Sarina Police Station will have one additional police officer, and the Proserpine Police Station will see an increase of one police officer and one additional Highway Patrol Officer.
Premier Steven Miles met with police officers in Mackay last week and said, “Queenslanders tell me they want to see more police in their communities.
“With this uplift, an extra 20 police will be recruited to the Mackay and Whitsunday region by mid-next year as part of our record boost to the frontline.
“It’s my commitment to Queenslanders that more police and the tools they need to keep communities safe are being delivered where police tell us they are needed.”
Acting Police Minister Meaghan Scanlon said that in addition, police have announced Operation Whiskey Legion, which will see officers from specialist units deployed to regions, including the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region, to provide further support to local police to disrupt and prevent crime.
“And further to that initiative, the government has provided police in the region with additional funding to conduct extreme high-visibility police patrols so that members of the community can be reassured by the on-going presence of police in public places like shopping centres and other high pedestrian traffic areas,” she said.
Mackay and Whitsundays District Officer Superintendent Graeme Paine said, “Community safety is at the core of our values and these additional frontline and specialised officers combined with extra resources will bolster these efforts.
“We are committed to reducing crime in the Mackay and central Queensland communities and these additional officers will be a welcomed tool to help us achieve that goal.
“Local residents can rest assured these officers will work hard to support and protect their community with a focus on preventing, disrupting and investigating crime.”
Premier Steven Miles met with local police officers last week to discuss the allocation of additional police positions in the greater Mackay region
