Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, the Honourable Mark Ryan MP, today joined Queensland Police Service (QPS) Commissioner Katarina Carroll to launch a Mobile Police Beat (MPB) in Townsville.
MPBs are being introduced throughout Queensland to enable a more agile and proactive policing response.
Townsville’s new ‘police station on wheels’ will also enable police to address local issues where they occur, allowing officers to deploy services where they are needed and making officers more visible in the community.
Commissioner Carroll emphasised the importance of community policing.
“These Mobile Police Beats are an extraordinary resource for our officers to connect with the local community,” Commissioner Carroll said.
“These facilities enable them to have a presence at community engagement events, and also deploy policing services quickly and efficiently at the time of an incident.
“We encourage members of the community to utilise the MPBs, which can be used as a place for the public to report crime, make a statement or seek advice and support from local police.”
Minister Ryan said the facilities would continue to be rolled out to police throughout Queensland.
“The Queensland Government have committed to delivering 25 of these facilities by 2024,” Minister Ryan said.
“These Mobile Police Beats are state-of-the-art and represent our commitment to ensuring the future of policing in our communities, providing police with the ability to deliver a targeted and adaptable response when and where they are needed.”
Member for Thuringowa, Aaron Harper, said the Mobile Police Beats were all about high visibility policing.
“This is one of the ways the Queensland Police Service further enhances its presence in the community and its connection to the community.”
Mundingburra MP, Les Walker, said the deployment of the new Mobile Police Beat was something people in the community would appreciate.
“With this new Mobile Police facility people will see police out and about in the community even more often.”
Townsville MP, Scott Stewart, said he was proud to be part of a government that backed police one hundred percent.
“Our government is making historic investments in police resourcing and infrastructure and those investments are all about supporting community safety.”
Queensland Police Union Vice President, Shane Prior, said the Union supports resource efficiency initiatives that enable police to stop crime and protect the public.
“Police here in Townsville and across Queensland work day in and day out to ensure the public feels safe.
“Initiatives like the new Mobile Police Beats further enhance the capabilities of frontline police to do that vital work at a grass roots level anywhere in the community.”
