POLICE in NSW’s
top robbery hotspot, Redfern, have demanded 20 more frontline officers be
posted to the area or they will consider industrial action.
Robbery rates in Redfern are spiralling, a Police
Association branch meeting was told yesterday. Redfern local area command last
year experienced a massive 7.4 per cent of all robberies across the state.
Officers in the area expressed frustration at yesterday’s meeting at being overworked and not having enough
general duties officers to respond to robberies and other crimes.
Redfern usually has two patrol cars staffed by two officers
each shift – police are demanding three cars a shift.
Detective Sergeant Mark Carter said robbery figures were
rising and police were “going backwards” due to the workload.
“We’re
number one in the state for robberies – the numbers speak for themselves,”
he said.
The meeting voted to give NSW Police 30 days to meet the
demand or face industrial action.
Association president Bob Pritchard said the extra numbers
were essential to ensure the community got the service it needed.