{"id":204532,"date":"2018-03-19T11:17:05","date_gmt":"2018-03-19T01:17:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=204532"},"modified":"2018-03-19T15:13:33","modified_gmt":"2018-03-19T05:13:33","slug":"police-at-murgon-not-affected-by-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/03\/19\/police-at-murgon-not-affected-by-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Police At Murgon ‘Not Affected By Games’"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 19, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Queensland Police Service has responded to suggestions a recent rise in youth crime in the Murgon area could be linked to staffing shortages caused by the Commonwealth Games.<\/p>\n

A QPS spokesperson said there was currently one vacancy at Murgon Police Station but an officer would arrive to fill that vacancy in a fortnight.<\/p>\n

“Another two officers have been transferred from Murgon Station, however these officers will not depart on transfer until after the Commonwealth Games in late April,” the QPS spokesman said.<\/p>\n

“In addition, a surplus sergeant has recently been transferred to Murgon.<\/p>\n

“The station has three police officers who have been assigned to the Commonwealth Games, however, with leave restrictions and a training embargo, service is not affected.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The South West District Officer continues to monitor staffing numbers at Murgon Station to ensure effective service delivery to the community.”<\/p>\n

The spokesperson said Murgon had a 24-hour policing presence and was staffed by 22 police officers and one Watch House manager.<\/p>\n

“Police from Murgon actively patrol both the Murgon and Cherbourg communities to keep a highly visible policing presence in both communities,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

“When required, staff from Murgon Station attend to reported incidents in Cherbourg.”<\/p>\n

The spokesperson said Murgon Police conducted “proactive operations and activities” aimed at solving and reducing crime in the community.<\/p>\n

“This includes assistance from the Toowoomba Dog Squad, specialist staff from the Darling Downs and Moreton District\u2019s Tactical Crime Squads and the Road Policing Command,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

“This assistance is a regular operational occurrence and will continue as part of the QPS response to policing the Murgon and Cherbourg communities.”<\/p>\n