Cop Shop Time Drop

Friday December 13, 2024

Published by The Border Watch by Charlotte Varcoe

MEMBER for Mount Gambier Troy Bell has written to the state emergency services minister seeking clarification around reduced police office hours.

South Australian Police (SAPOL) announced a reduction in the Mount Gambier/Berrin's 24-hours desk service to allow for more officers to patrol the regions and respond to calls for assistance.

The local station will be one of three regional stations reduced from being open 24-hours to standardised hours.

According to SAPOL, standardised hours are from 9am until 5pm between Monday to Fridays and 9am until 5.30pm on weekends.

Three Limestone Coast police stations opening hours will be changed with Naracoorte also reduced to standardised hours.

Millicent's station hours will be increased by half an hour in the afternoons.

Since the announcement, Mr Bell said he contacted Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Cregan requesting more information.

"I want to understand the data that sits behind the decision that has been made," Mr Bell said.

"I am very supportive of having police on the streets, more police interacting with our community versus sitting behind a desk so if that is the outcome and the data backs it up then I am very supportive of this move."

He said he did not want the reduction in opening hours to be a "cost-cutting" move which was the concern brought to him from the community.

"We are the state's second largest city and instead of seeing an increase in services we are seeing a decrease so I want to understand the data that sits behind that before I can make an informed comment on this decision," Mr Bell said.

"I want to see what has changed and what the benefits for our community will be noting I do not want to see a reduction in service, I want to see an increase."

He said he expected upon receiving the data he hoped the reduction in hours would be due to little or no activity.

"On one hand why would you hold somebody up behind a desk when they could be out supporting our community and upholding the law," he said.

"More police on the streets and police presence is a positive thing in my mind, I am very hopeful that is the underpinning rationale behind this move but until we have had these conversations it is hard to make a decision."

According to the SAPOL crime statistics for September 2024 for Mount Gambier/Berrin there were 140 total offences.

These included 24 serious assault not resulting in injury, 23 property damage and environmental offences and 20 counts of other theft.

Other offences recorded included theft from shops, motor vehicles and other variations of assault.

State operations service assistant commissioner Ian Parrott said the changes made to station opening hours would allow regional police officers to return to frontline duties.

Mr Parrott said police stations were often staffed by taking officers from other operational or frontline positions including patrols.

"Standardising hours across the 14 stations will not affect how the police presence or response in these towns will continue to be provided," Mr Parrott said.

"The primary method of contact from the public to South Australia Police is by phone not front counter attendance.

"People are familiar with calling Triple Zero or 131 444, and a large portion of the community now have mobile phones always with them."

Mr Cregan said the decision would make the communities safer while recruitment efforts expanded.

He said during the last financial year, more than 2000 people applied to join SAPOL with 262 officers graduating and 239 separations.

There will be no changes to Bordertown's station nor Penola's with the changes expected to come into effect on December 23.

A Triple-Zero button has been installed at the Mount Gambier station entrance for those needing assistance outside office hours.