Twenty-four hour policing in Wellington has been highlighted once again after two meetings between the public and political candidates surrounding the issue of crime in Wellington.
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Country Labor candidate Stephen Lawrence and Shadow Minister for Police, Corrections and Emergency Services Guy Zangari met with members of the public at a recent meeting to discuss policing throughout the region.
Meanwhile, Nationals candidate Dugald Saunders attended the latest Wellington Business Chamber meeting where he was the guest speaker talking about Nationals policy in relation to the Wellington region.
Mr Lawrence said a large number of residents attended the public meeting.
“They told Mr. Zangari in the clearest terms really possible that the town is crying out for a full time police presence,” Mr Lawrence said.
While both Mr Lawrence and Mr Zangari noted the strong support for a 24 hour police station in Wellington, they stopped short of committing to delivering the idea, with Mr Zangari noting that he hadn’t come to Wellington to ‘make promises’.
“What I did was listen and take it in. If and when Labor forms government, whether I am the Police Minister or not, these concerns will be front and centre,” Mr Zangari said.
While attending the Wellington Business Chamber meeting Mr Saunders provided a question and answer session for locals to have their concerns heard.
Saunders was contacted for further comment, but has not yet responded.
Inspector Dan Skelly was also in attendance at the meeting and spoke with the public in an attempt to gauge public opinion about the policing efforts in Wellington.
“I make it a point to attend every business chamber meeting that I can in order to meet with business owners and hear from them about their feelings and what we can do if they feel that we have failed them,” Inspector Skelly said.
“What I can say is that the government has pledged 1500 more police throughout NSW and we have applied for 30 of those officers to be stationed here in the Orana Mid-west region and I would expect some of those to come to Wellington.”
Ultimately, however, Inspector Skelly stressed that any decision around a 24 hour police station would be the decision of the Police Commissioner.
Speaking on the topic of 24 hour policing in Wellington, independent candidate Matthew Dickerson re-affirmed his support for the proposal, but acknowledged that the idea would need a strong push in order to become a reality.
“Absolutely I support it, my thoughts haven’t changed, the community feedback in Wellington and Narromine is very strong on 24 hour policing,” Mr Dickerson said.
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“I can’t guarantee it’s going to happen the day after I’m elected, but I know that the only way to get 24 hour policing is to have a member that’s going to fight tooth and nail to get it.”
Farmers, Fishers and Shooters candidate Lara Quealy attended the meeting arranged by Stephen Lawrence and was relieved to see the issue of law and order in Wellington is being taken seriously.
“I think it’s great that we’re getting the shadow ministers down here, I’d like to see the Nationals do it. I think there’s a lot of issues in Wellington that need to be addressed, obviously there’s the policing,” Ms Quealy said.
Despite supporting the proposal, Ms Quealy also wants an increase in rural policing to ensure that any increased police presence doesn’t simply drive crime outward to more rural areas.
“We need more rural crime detectives. We can’t have 24 hour policing without an increased focus on rural crime as well, because it’ll just push that crime further out into the more isolated areas,” Ms Quealy said.
Greens candidate Rod Pryor wasn’t in attendance at either of the meetings, but reaffirmed his commitment to 24 hour policing in Wellington, Narromine and Gulgong.
“Towns that are crying out for increased policing aren’t getting it,” Mr Pryor said.
