NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has confirmed Gunnedah’s upgraded police station will not be staffed 24 hours a day.
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Commissioner Scipione and Acting Premier and Minister for Police Troy Grant were in Gunnedah yesterday to inspect the police station as the first stop in a visit to regional stations.
Both Commissioner Scipione and Mr Grant said 24-hour policing was not justified in Gunnedah, but did not rule it out in the future.
“We never build a police station based on the numbers in that station today,” Commissioner Scipione said.
“We always need to give them enough room to grow.”
He said staff were allocated according to need, and Gunnedah did not have the need for 24-hour staffing at the moment.
Mr Grant said money had been set aside in state government estimates but would not be drawn on how much had been allocated.
He confirmed it could be more than $3 million.
“I have been inside with officers before and there is a lot of old infrastructure,” Mr Grant said.
He said the work would be an upgrade and not a rebuilt station, with “fundamental changes” to areas including the foyer, the prisoner loading dock area and officers’ work areas.
He said he had “learnt first-hand some of the frustrations” when he had been stationed in Gunnedah during his time as a police officer.
Mr Grant said planning would begin “as quickly as possible”.
Commissioner Scipione asked those who toured the station yesterday to take photos, because it would look completely different following the upgrade.
He said the visit was an important chance to speak to regional police officers.
“I don’t get here too often and I want to speak to as many police as possible,” Commissioner Scipione said.
“It’s always great to come into a town just like Gunnedah to get a chance to speak to them about things that are important to them right here right now.”
He said the upgrade meant an “exciting” time for Gunnedah, and there was no reason officers could not be given access to the latest in policing technology available to metropolitan police.
“The NSW on my shoulder doesn’t refer
to Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong,” he said.
“Regional NSW is NSW – it is the heart of NSW.
“Country NSW is just as important as any part of this state.”
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said he was “honoured” to host the first tour.
“I welcome the police minister and commissioner visiting the 50-year-old Gunnedah Police Station and meeting our local command,” Mr Anderson said.
He said the government had “listened to the community”.
“I look forward to continuing a strong working relationship with our police to ensure the safety of our local communities,” Mr Anderson said.
Mr Grant said it had not yet been decided where police would be located while construction was under way.
Mr Anderson said earlier in the week the government could look at the option of using the government building located opposite the police station.