NORTHCOTT ELECTORATE POLICING
Mr O'FARRELL (Northcott) [6.55]: I raise a matter affecting my electorate and concerning law and order generally. Last night at Eaton Avenue, Normanhurst, at approximately 12.15 a.m. a number of youths entered a home, assaulted a youth, threatened his mother, sister and two younger brothers and escaped with half a carton of beer. Thankfully, through the quick action of the Hornsby police patrol, the offenders were caught, hiding in bushes down the road. They had with them two balaclavas and a baseball bat, and there were empty beer bottles discarded nearby. I congratulate the police on their quick response. I offer my sympathies to the family involved and extend best wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured youth. One of the worst crimes would have to be having one's home invaded and one's family threatened. It must be a truly terrifying situation. There are two patrols in the Northcott electorate, Hornsby and Pennant Hills.
As I said, last night's incident was handled expeditiously by Hornsby patrol, which is the larger of the two patrols. Pennant Hills contains the growth areas - including Cherrybrook, which I am told it is estimated will have the highest proportion of teenagers of any Australian suburb in the year 2000 - and more established areas such as Beecroft, Cheltenham and Pennant Hills.
In the view of the community, in my view and I suspect in the view of officers stationed in those patrols, the patrols are undermanned. In anticipation of the Minister's response I simply say that the record of the previous Government in the area is particularly good. Pennant Hills station was turned into a 24-hour police station and its manning was upgraded. Beat patrols were introduced into both areas and strengthened during the term of the coalition Government. My specific concern is that it was revealed today that police numbers statewide
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have declined, specifically the numbers of beat police - those who patrol our suburbs; road safety officers - those who pursue vehicle speed and attend to alcohol incidents or problems; and in the safety in custody program.
Beat police are down from 2,805 under the coalition Government to 2,397 in this year's budget - a cut of 400, or 14 per cent. This is at a time when there has been a 13 per cent rise in assaults, a 10 per cent increase in stealing and significant rises in offensive conduct and language crimes. When street crime is rising beat police numbers are reduced. Road safety officers, those who police our roads, are down from 3,575 to 3,018 - a cut of almost 600, or 16.5 per cent. This is despite a 23 per cent rise in prescribed content of alcohol drink-driving offences. So when drink-driving offences are up dramatically, Labor slashes the appropriate police program.
In Northcott there have been similar increases in the offences mentioned - not due in any way to the hard-working efforts of local police patrols. The honourable member for Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby police and Hornsby business people have had to establish a scheme, called BusinessWatch, because of fairly dramatic increases in crimes against retailers in and around the Hornsby Mall. Since the scheme was established, retailers in other parts of the electorate have noted increases in activity against their premises and assets. Pennant Hills and Thornleigh business owners have raised these concerns with me. In support of the revelations today that police numbers have fallen, I was alarmed to be informed that beat police from Hornsby patrol are to be transferred to Gladesville patrol.
The honourable member for Ku-ring-gai has been informed that beat police in his area are to be transferred to the central coast. I do not begrudge an increase in beat patrols at Gladesville or elsewhere in the State; however, I strongly object to movements which have more to do with political statistics than crime statistics. Hornsby beat patrol needs strengthening as crimes against businesses increase. Pennant Hills patrol is in even greater need. I understand that its beat patrol comprises two officers and a single car. If the car is out of order or if illness strikes an officer, the patrol basically ceases. This is despite the problems evident in growth areas of the electorate, despite increasing burglary rates in Beecroft and Pennant Hills and despite other street crimes in the electorate.
My electorate wants some answers. Is it true that despite election promises to be tough on crime - promises I accept were received with enthusiasm by the electorate across New South Wales - police numbers in beat policing and road safety programs are down? Is it true that in order to camouflage this fact and to meet political exigencies in Labor marginal seats much needed beat police are being transferred from Hornsby
patrol to Gladesville patrol and central coast patrols? What does the Government say to the neighbours of those involved in last night's incident and people in other local areas about the continued capacity of Pennant Hills and Hornsby patrols to respond effectively? What comfort can it give to many people, especially the aged, who live in fear of increased street crime, burglary and, regrettably, home invasion? These are important matters. I hope the answers are not long in coming.
Mr E. T. PAGE (Coogee - Minister for Local Government) [6.59]: Since the honourable member for Northcott entered Parliament I have had a sneaking respect for him. But a lot of that respect has now dissipated. The honourable member raised a very valid issue: home invasions. I agree that it would be traumatic to be involved in a home invasion. The honourable member also said that following a quick response from the police the perpetrators of last night's crime were quickly apprehended. He then went off on a tangent and talked about beat police. During the day 1,000 beat police may have patrolled the northern suburbs but that would have had absolutely no effect on last night's crime. It was not beat police who picked up the miscreants but patrol police. The honourable member said that it was terrific that the police solved the crime so quickly; it is a great Government that allowed this to happen.
The honourable member for Northcott then went on to a side issue that has nothing to do with the matter he first raised. He led us to believe that that successful end to the incident somehow leads to a lack of success in some other area. Of course there is no logic in what he said. No wonder I have lost some respect for him. Undoubtedly this Government is more aware of the needs of police than was the previous Government. However, under the previous Government there was a tremendous spate of home invasions, which were reaching epidemic proportions in some areas. Now something has been done about them. I am glad that the honourable member had the decency to pat this Government on the back because of a successful apprehension.
Private members' statements noted.
House adjourned at 7.01 p.m.