AN UPDATE FROM ACTING SR SGT DOC NEWMAN

The major Policing challenge that our area has faced in recent times has been the creation of the new Coomera Police District which we hope to have online sometime during the month of November 2009. This will signal a major change to the way Police do business in the current two districts with parts of Logan and the Gold Coast Districts becoming part of the new Coomera District whose headquarters are based at Coomera. The communications for that area will be run by the existing Broadbeach Police Communications Centre.

There is - within the New District - a whole new Traffic Branch at the Coomera District HQ, which is currently to be commanded by yours truly until the appointment is filled. There will be 15 Traffic Branch positions, of which 10 will be new. During this last year the policing presence has increase by over 60 extra staff to the region taking in the Coomera District, Coomera Traffic Branch, Crestmead, Robina plus growth in both Logan and the Gold Coast District.

Six detectives plus one crime analyst will commence duty full-time in the Gold Coast District to assist with organised major crime. This initiative will be a major benefit to crime fighting in the Gold Coast District.

As of the 1st of September, the South Eastern Region road toll, in terms of fatalities, stands at 22 which is 25 less than the same time last year. This year’s road toll is on track to being the best result since 1999 but one lost life is too many so please be careful and courteous on the road.

The introduction of the first of two fixed speed cameras to the Gold Coast was on the 31st of August. This camera is situated on the Gold Coast Highway at Broadbeach in the 70km/hr zone and already has detected a number of high speeds over 100 km/hr. The other is on the Gold Coast Highway near Macdonald’s at Southport.

In relation to Crime Prevention, South Eastern Region’s Volunteers in Policing (VIP) have recently been trained in conducting both Home and Business Security Audits. VIPs are often utilised to follow up with victims of crime or alternatively assist with proactive security advice to business, home or unit owners.

You may have heard people talk about CPTED (pronounced Sep-ted) – and wondered what on earth it is. CPTED is Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design and is a proven crime prevention approach which has been shown to reduce opportunities for crime and incivility by designing environments in ways that lessen or prevent the incidence of crime.

For example, it can be utilised to address hot spot locations where factors such as who uses the area, is there adequate natural surveillance (lighting etc), is the purpose of the space clearly defined or would CCTV assist - could be considered. If you want further information on CPTED please contact your local District Crime Prevention Coordinator (DCPC) – at Logan on 3286 1800 or on the Gold Coast on 5570 7939.

Acting Senior Sergeant Doc Newman