With lights flashing and wheels in motion, a new era of community policing has arrived on the streets of Mackay and the Whitsundays. The Mobile Police Beat has officially launched, providing a flexible, high-visibility police presence designed to engage with communities and enhance crime prevention efforts where they are needed most.
As part of the Queensland Police Service’s ‘Bring the Beat’ initiative, the program allows residents to request a Mobile Police Beat deployment to their local area by submitting a form through the district’s myPolice website. The initiative has already seen success in other regions across the state and is now bringing that same accessibility and responsiveness to the Mackay Whitsunday community.
District Officer Superintendent Dean Cavanagh said the initiative reflects the service’s commitment to enhancing community safety and fostering stronger connections between police and the public.
“The best part about the mobile police beat in Mackay now is that any member of the public can request it,” Superintendent Cavanagh said.
“The ‘Bring the Beat’ program provides greater access to the community, allowing police to be present in hotspots where they are able to respond swiftly where needed.
“The Mobile Police Beat will be able to provide instant access to police at large events and in high traffic areas where we can engage most with residents.”
The unit is equipped to handle all the same functions as a traditional police station, offering full-service capabilities on the go.
“Absolutely anything you're going to expect within a police station, you can do within the mobile police beat…we want people to treat this as a police station on wheels.
“Not only will this give the public greater access to police services when and where they are needed, but it will give the community the opportunity to discuss local crime issues, and learn about how they can enhance their own security.”
Community engagement has already proven strong.
“We've seen in some locations up to 500 members of the public come and engage with the mobile police beat, so we're very happy with the response so far,” Superintendent Cavanagh added.
“I would absolutely encourage any members of the public, when you see the police beat, please approach it, and have a conversation with the officers present.”
The initiative is not only about visibility, but rather a strategic asset to the region, says local highway patrol.
Sergeant Shane Edwards, Officer in Charge of Highway Patrol noted that, “It's a great resource for the district, so we can use it to go to areas where there's been identified problems, and have that extra policing presence there.”
The Mobile Police Beat aims to enhance community safety, visibility, and real-time policing where it’s needed most.
The Queensland Police Service’s Mobile Police Beat has launched in Mackay and the Whitsundays, providing a flexible, high-visibility presence to engage communities and boost crime prevention. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara
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