A mobile police beat will boost police presence and strengthen frontline interaction as part of a new local policing strategy announced for the Sunshine Coast community.
Police Minister Mark Ryan and Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt joined Acting Superintendent John Van Egmond today in announcing the deployment of the vehicle to parts of the southern Sunshine Coast.
Minister Ryan said the Queensland Police Service intends to deploy mobile police beats anywhere, anytime to ensure a highly visible police presence where and when they are operationally needed.
"The Police Commissioner has said that mobile police beats are the way of the future, delivering a highly visible police presence where and when they are operationally needed," Minister Ryan said.
"The modern vehicles are fully functional 'stations on wheels', equipped with police technology and equipment to provide a suite of services.
"The mobile police beat is part of a new strategy to enhance the local police presence and community engagement with police in the area."
Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said the Baringa location had been identified by police for a local initiative as the community continues to expand.
"The Baringa community and areas south of Caloundra are rapidly growing in population and new developments and infrastructure," he said.
"I am told police have received positive feedback from other communities such as in the northern beaches of Cairns where deployment of the facilities has been well received by residents and business operators.
"I have long advocated for my local community to be delivered the policing facilities it needs to support community safety and it is very gratifying to see the world class Queensland Police Service delivering the innovative strategies and resources that will support that outcome."
Acting Superintendent Van Egmond said in addition to the flexibility to deploy the mobile police beat anywhere, anytime across the southern Sunshine Coast local police are also set to trial a new local engagement initiative in the Baringa area to support that community as it continues to expand.
"The Baringa community and areas south of Caloundra are rapidly growing in population and new developments and infrastructure and, with this mobile police beat, the Queensland Police Service now has the capability to better engage with this local community," he said.
"From 20 May 2021, we will trial our new community engagement strategy by initially basing the mobile police beat at a site next to the Baringa Community Centre each Thursday.
"We have worked closely with local residents and community representatives about opportunities to enhance community safety on the southern Sunshine Coast," Acting Superintendent Van Egmond said.
"While police will continue to regularly patrol Baringa and surrounding suburbs, with this mobile police beat, there will also be a dedicated police presence as part of our trial of our new community engagement strategy. "The vehicle will be stationed in the heart of the Baringa community for members of the public to access police services, seek advice and discuss local issues directly.
"As the southern Sunshine Coast continues to grow, we will constantly evaluate the success of our new community engagement strategy and are committed to using feedback from the community to continually build upon our work. Obviously, that may mean that over time we change or increase the days that the mobile police beat is deployed in this community."
Minister Ryan said that the Palaszczuk Government is supporting the Queensland Police Service as it rolls out 25 new state-of-the-art mobile police beats over the next four years as part of the State Government's election commitment.
In addition to the mobile police beat for the southern Sunshine Coast, one of these new vehicles will be delivered to the Queensland Police Service for deployment to the Buderim and surrounding area over the next few months.
Minister Ryan also said that as part of the Palaszczuk Government's $300 million police infrastructure pipeline, a new police station will be built at Caloundra South. Construction timelines are dependent on developer development timelines and the construction of arterial roads. .
