Cronulla Police Station

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Speakers - Kerr Mr Malcolm
Business - Private Members Statements

CRONULLA POLICE STATION

Mr KERR (Cronulla) [6.28 p.m.]: I draw to the attention of the House the state of the Cronulla police station. It is the responsibility of the Government to maintain the Cronulla police station, and it has not been successful in that regard. The former coalition Government appropriated from its budget funds for the upgrading of the Cronulla police station. That work was required because at that time the Cronulla police patrol encompassed some 34 square kilometres and had waterways on both the northern and southern boundary, with the Tasman Sea on the eastern side. The patrol is bordered to the west by one other patrol, namely Miranda.

It must be said that under the former coalition Government the police strength increased, from 44 in 1984 to 53 under the former Government. The patrol at that time was responsible for a population of about 50,000, and had almost equal proportions of men and women. As honourable members would be aware, that patrol serviced four suburbs, namely, Cronulla, Woolooware, Caringbah and Kurnell. The patrol falls within the Sutherland council electorate of A riding. The suburbs of Caringbah, Woolooware and Cronulla are serviced by an electric commuter train, being part of the Illawarra line. There are two major shopping centres within the patrol, situated at Cronulla and Caringbah.

Previously, the Cronulla police station had an authorised strength of 50, under the command of an inspector. The Cronulla police station offered a range of policing services that included mobile response, beat police, detectives and licensing officers. Mounted police patrolled the beaches at that time. The public are becoming increasingly concerned at the downgrading of the Cronulla police station. It is no longer possible to charge people there, and the police work in cramped conditions. As we approach the summer season it is essential that additional police resources be provided in Cronulla.

Mr Smith: Hear, hear!

Mr KERR: The honourable member for Bega said, "Hear, hear!" Many people from other parts of Sydney and elsewhere will come to Cronulla because of its famous beaches.

Mr Smith: A top seaside area.

Mr KERR: It is a top seaside area. It is essential that the police have decent facilities. Even outside the summer season it is essential that those police facilities be provided for the residents of the Cronulla electorate. The large increase in the number of street offences is a matter of grave concern to Cronulla residents. Upgrading of the police station is long overdue. It is essential that the police strength be supplemented because of the special nature of the area. The people of the Cronulla electorate are proud of the law-abiding nature of the general population, but it is a matter of resentment that people from other parts of Sydney would engage in antisocial behaviour. The best way
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to prevent antisocial behaviour is to have police in sufficient numbers patrolling our beaches and streets. They need to have a high level of visibility. To have that high level of visibility, police must have adequate accommodation and adequate charging facilities. To ensure that the Cronulla electorate is adequately policed, I emphasise the need for the upgrading of the police station. [Time expired.]

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