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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-04-10 Daily Xml
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POLICE NUMBERS

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (15:33): From time to time since I have been in this place I have raised the issue of police matters, and indeed, sir, I think during your time as police minister. However, I wish to raise again the issue of policing on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Can I just put well and truly on the record, before I go any further, my admiration for the job that the current police officers down there do. They do it to the best of their ability with scarce resources and they get little or no thanks from many people. They do a fine job, and I know that Superintendent Rob Williams, who has just taken over from Superintendent John Bruhn operating out of Mount Barker, is well aware of some of the issues at the moment.

However, just lately, an increasing number of concerns from constituents have come through my office in relation to the time that it is taking police to get to calls when they are called out. There is a lead time of up to 50 minutes for some of these events, and it is probably important to note that there is only one vehicle on the road at night in the Fleurieu.

This matter has also been drawn to the attention of the Mayor of Victor Harbor, Mr Graham Philp, himself a former sergeant. I know that he has written to the commissioner expressing concern on behalf of his council area and the regional city of Victor Harbor, and I know that that concern is felt by other local government authorities across the Fleurieu. It appears to me that no-one is listening to whatever is said in relation to upping the resources. It is a matter for grave concern that many elderly people are feeling threatened, and that they are not feeling at all comfortable in their own residences. I have many retired residents in my electorate and it worries me greatly that they should feel that way.

From time to time, we have the odd nasty come down from over the hill, somewhere in the metropolitan area, dealing in drugs or house breaking or other nefarious deeds. It is a big area, and I think, at the risk of repeating myself, it is very difficult at night, if a police officer is called out or had a report given to them from one side of the Fleurieu, when there is an incident taking place on the other side. I know there is also a detective working, but patrol cars out and about are critical.

It is a major worry. I will be interested to see what sort of response Mayor Graham Philp gets from Commissioner Burns when it comes through. I note that his letter has also gone to the Minister for Police, the Hon. Michael O'Brien; Superintendent Robert Williams; the Mayor of Alexandrina, Kym McHugh; and the Mayor of Yankalilla, Councillor Malcolm Schlein, and to the elected members of Victor Harbor.

Unfortunately, police resources are being pushed into the metropolitan area, and regional areas like the Fleurieu are getting screwed for resources, so it is simply not good enough. If an extremely serious event takes place, and the resources are not found in a very short period of time and something tragic happens, I will remind the house of my speech today. I ask on behalf of my constituents that consideration be given to putting further police resources into the Southern Fleurieu, and that a second patrol vehicle be put out and about at night so that they can work more quickly and more efficiently to catch villains when they are about.

We have had some good results lately and, once again, I commend police operating out of Victor Harbor on those results. Also, just recently, we had a potentially very serious accident when the police cage car at Yankalilla had an accident, caught fire and was burnt out. The police officer got out of it reasonably well but it was still a serious incident.

I am also worried for the residents of the island, and the three officers over there, but the Southern Fleurieu is my point of concern today. I put it on the record. I look forward to a positive response from Mayor Philp's letter to the commissioner.

Time expired.

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