Anthony Roberts
Shadow Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism
While police numbers fall under the Minns Labor Government, the state's top cop has warned organised crime groups are deliberately recruiting young people online to carry out crimes on their behalf.
Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has told 2GB's Ben Fordham they're seeing what they call "crime as a service" which is where young people are contracted online to conduct murders, kidnappings and drive by shootings.
Shadow Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Anthony Roberts said today's warning from the Police Commissioner should be a wake-up call for a Government that is refusing to prioritise community safety.
"The Commissioner is telling us that criminal networks are now deliberately targeting vulnerable young people through social media and online platforms to do their dirty work," Mr Roberts said.
"This is a sophisticated, organised threat and it demands a properly resourced response. What it cannot afford is a police force that is stretched to breaking point."
NSW now has just 176 police officers per 100,000 people, down from 205 in 2019, even as the state's population has grown and the nature of crime has become more complex and more dangerous.
"At exactly the moment our Police Commissioner is warning us that crime is evolving and young people are being targeted online, the Minns Government has allowed police numbers to fall to their lowest ratio in years," Mr Roberts said.
"The Minns Labor Government must outline a plan to restore police numbers and resource law enforcement agencies with the tools they need."
