An alarming rise in serious criminal activity in the North and North West has laid bare the Minority Hodgman Liberal Government's failed approach to law and order.
Shadow Police Minister Shane Broad said the Liberals needed to explain why crime rates were rising significantly.
"When it comes to law and order the Liberals are all talk," Dr Broad said.
"While the Liberals play politics with law and order, the community is becoming less safe."
Data from the May 2019 TasPol Corporate Performance Report reveals alarming year on year trends including:
- Response times for high priority incidents increased from 16 to 25 minutes in Launceston, 13 to 25 minutes in Burnie and 15 to 23 minutes in Devonport
- Response times for low priority incidents increased from 34 to 39 minutes in Launceston, 25 to 28 minutes in Burnie and 27 to 29 minutes in Devonport
- Total crime rates are up 27.3 per cent in Launceston, 13.3 per cent in Burnie and 12 per cent in Devonport
- Public place assault rates increased 19.9 per cent in Launceston, 23.4 per cent in Burnie and 23.5 per cent in Devonport
- Business burglaries increased by 44.3 per cent in Launceston
- Motor vehicles burglaries are up 71.6 per cent in Launceston, 136.4 per cent in the north-east, up 35.9 per cent in Burnie and 140.3 per cent in Devonport
Dr Broad said failed former Minister Michael Ferguson plunged the health and hospital system into an unprecedented crisis by refusing to listen to frontline workers and he left law and order in the same mess.
"Now it's up to new Minister Mark Shelton to explain how he intends to respond to the crime spike," Dr Broad said.
"The Hodgman Government has committed in its second year agenda to deliver 125 more frontline police officers and to deploy those officers as first responders in regional and rural areas.
"Can Mr Shelton outline how many of those officers have been delivered, where they have been stationed and when the full complement will be delivered?"
"Where is the police capability review that was promised by the former Police Minister Michael Ferguson?
"How can we have confidence that additional resources have gone to where they are needed?
"Will Mr Shelton stand by as the government launches its $450 million program of cuts across the public sector or will he stand up to Premier Hodgman and Treasurer Gutwein and their razor gang to demand police and other first responders are given the tools and resources they need to perform their duties?"
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister
