{"id":209588,"date":"2018-05-24T16:31:04","date_gmt":"2018-05-24T06:31:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=209588"},"modified":"2020-08-03T18:02:19","modified_gmt":"2020-08-03T08:02:19","slug":"local-mp-slams-band-aid-solution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/05\/24\/local-mp-slams-band-aid-solution\/","title":{"rendered":"Local MP Slams ‘Band-Aid’ Solution"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington with Darren Buckley, from Murgon Neighbourhood Watch in March this year (Photo: Nanango Electorate Office)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 24, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has welcomed the recent crackdown on crime in Murgon and Cherbourg but said a statement by Police Minister Mark Ryan on Thursday was “a slap in the face for these communities\u201d.<\/p>\n

A statement from Mr Ryan’s office said recent raids by police in Murgon and Cherbourg – which resulted in 27 people being charged – were \u201ca textbook illustration of modern policing strategy\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a issue arises in a community police resources are promptly allocated to respond,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n

Mrs Frecklington said Mr Ryan’s claims that “police resources are promptly allocated when an issue arises” were simply not true.<\/p>\n

“We have been calling for extra police resourcing to tackle the crime wave in these communities since January this year,” she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFour months doesn\u2019t seem like a prompt response to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is obvious we need a more permanent solution in the South Burnett, not a fly-in, fly-out band-aid on this problem.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote a third letter to the Minister on May 18 (see below) urgently seeking more staffing and resources for the Murgon Police Station and a stronger, continued police presence in both Murgon and Cherbourg.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Minister can\u2019t wipe his hands of this matter now and think it\u2019s all fixed.<\/p>\n

“The work must continue to address the crime wave.\u201d<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Mrs Frecklington’s third letter to Police Minister Mark Ryan:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have now written to you on two occasions in regards to the crime wave in Murgon (February 5, 2018; and March 12, 2018).<\/em><\/p>\n

Disappointingly, I have not yet received a reply to my March 12\u00a0correspondence. <\/em><\/p>\n

I wish to highlight the urgent nature of this correspondence, in light of the\u00a0sustained juvenile crime wave in Murgon and Cherbourg (which) continues.<\/em><\/p>\n

This is causing a great deal of anxiety within the communities and it is becoming obvious more\u00a0needs to be done to address this issue.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

As I noted in my letter of March 12, the community\u00a0has become disillusioned with the current situation.<\/em><\/p>\n

In particular, the community would like to see the presence of the Police Dog Squad or\u00a0external police resources deployed to the region. <\/em><\/p>\n

While I have been advised this has occurred,\u00a0I would like to confirm the following:<\/em><\/p>\n

(a) Dates and times the Police Dog Squad have been present in Murgon<\/em><\/p>\n

(b) Their role and actions undertaken during their posting to Murgon<\/em><\/p>\n

(c) Likelihood of the Police Dog Squad returning to Murgon in the future<\/em><\/p>\n

(d) Dates and times for other external police resources deployed to Murgon and\u00a0Cherbourg<\/em><\/p>\n

I also ask again in relation to staffing at the Murgon Police Station.<\/em><\/p>\n

I am concerned that in light\u00a0of the current crime wave, the police resources in the township are not sufficient. <\/em><\/p>\n

I request\u00a0urgent consideration of a stronger police presence in Murgon and Cherbourg in order to\u00a0display a co-ordinated effort in dealing with the juvenile crime.<\/em><\/p>\n

This is an urgent matter. <\/em><\/p>\n

I ask that you give this matter timely and due regard.<\/em><\/p>\n

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