LABOR has said it will focus on high-visibility policing if re-elected, promising 15 new police officers and 12 new candy-striped police cars.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The $8.5 million announcement by Police Minister David O'Byrne this morning brings the target police force under Labor up to 1135, still 93 officers shy of the return to a force of 1228 officers promised by the Liberal Party.
Mr O'Byrne said the significant difference in resources promised for law and order did not mean Labor did not take crime seriously.
We know that every individual issue of crime and every incident of crime is serious and affects the Tasmanian community in a profound way,'' Mr O'Byrne said.
``But we also have to acknowledge that there's been a 15 per cent reduction in crime in the term of this government.''
Today's announcement also included $2 million for the SES to upgrade equipment, $450,000 to expand the Adopt-a-Cop program in Tasmanian schools and $10,000 for an education campaign about the impacts of one-punch assaults and alcohol-fuelled violence.
``Our commitment is strategic, responds to the needs of the community and is affordable,'' Mr O'Byrne said.
The Liberal Party has promised an extra $33 million for the police budget including restoring 47 officers to the disbanded Public Order Response Team and funding a serious and organsied crime unit.
