A FUTURE-PROOF, multi-million-dollar upgrade to Gunnedah's police station was designed so officers could work around the clock, now there are calls for more cops to make it happen.
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"We are at a point at the moment that in our communities ... crime is surging and action needs to be taken now to stamp that out," Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey said.
"Gunnedah police station needs to be manned 24 hours per day, seven days per week."
The $8.2 million new police station was finished about three years ago.
"It was built for decades to come, it was built for 24-hour policing, and yet we don't have that," Cr Chaffey said.
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He has joined forces with Tamworth mayor Russell Webb to advocate for more police to boost the thin blue line in the Oxley command as a property crime wave causes concern and leaves police worn out.
"This surge needs to be arrested, and the only way to do that is to put more feet on the ground, and 24-hour policing in Gunnedah will do that," Cr Chaffey said.
"Our men and women in blue are part of our community, they live in our community, they are residents in our community ... that's why we're calling out for more support for these people."
The fight for a 24-hour station in Gunnedah has been going on for some time.
Cr Chaffey said authorities previously indicated the crime data didn't back up the need, but he believes that's now changed.
A spokesperson for Police Minister Paul Toole confirmed in a statement to the Leader he had received a letter from Cr Chaffey outlining his position on Thursday morning.
"The station is well supported by resources across the Oxley Police District that are deployed on a flexible and intelligence driven basis," the statement said.
Our men and women in blue are part of our community ... that's why we're calling out for more support.
- Mayor Jamie Chaffey
The state government and NSW Police will announce an allocation of 550 officers later this year, the last of the 1500 promised in 2018.
NSW Police said postings across the state will be based on resourcing needs.
Current crime statistics are taken into account.
Community engagement programs for at risk people will continue.
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