21 June, 2023
3 more cops at Drayton
Although not expanded to be 24/7, the Drayton Police Station is set to be better manned through the addition of three more police officer positions.
This will bring the total manpower to the station to nine.
For some time, Member for Condamine Pat Weir has been campaigning for Drayton Police Station to be expanded to providing 24/7 service to the expansive area it covers, which includes the Toowoomba suburbs of Drayton, Harristown and Darling Heights as well as Westbrook, Wellcamp, Wyreema, Vale View, Mount Rascal, Top Camp and Hodgson Vale.
In addition to those areas, it also assists in covering the Cambooya Police Division, which only has one police officer covering Cambooya, Greenmount, East Greenmount, Felton and Ramsay.
Mr Weir supports increasing the operational capacity of Drayton Police Station because of the growth in population of the area, as well as crime issues.
In response to a question in parliament by Mr Weir, Minister for Police and Corrective Services Mark Ryan said the staffing model for Drayton Police Division has been expanded with the recent addition of three positions and the process for filling these positions has commenced.
“In addition, I am also advised (by the Queensland Police Service) that the Drayton Police Division already is part of a 24/7 borderless, priority policing model within the Darling Downs District,” Minister Ryan said.
“The allocation of police resources is a matter for the Commissioner of Police based on operational policing demand and direct service delivery requirements to ensure a fair and equitable service is provided throughout the State.
“I am advised these requirements can change as new policing issues emerge.
“The Commissioner makes this decision, free of any political interference, which is as it should be.”
Mr Ryan said over five years, at least 150 new police officer positions will be located in the Southern policing region, which includes Darling Downs, South West and Ipswich.
