A Minns Labor Government will deliver an additional 50 police officers for the fast-growing south-west region of Sydney.
 
Labor’s plan – boosting police numbers
 
Labor will invest $13 million over the next term of government to boost police numbers in the south west.
 
The 50 additional police will be deployed across stations in Narellan, Campbelltown, Macquarie Fields and surrounding areas.
 
The commitment represents a significant increase to police numbers to the area, which currently totals some 430 across the Camden and Campbelltown police area commands.
 
Under the Liberals – escalating crime, declining police numbers
 
Response times for urgent calls in Camden and Campbelltown were 10 minutes and 15 seconds and 8 minutes and 43 seconds, respectively, in the 2021-22 period.
 
This is compared to Surry Hills, which had an average response time of 4 minutes and 5 seconds.
 
Meanwhile, police officer turnover has more than doubled in the last term of government, from 513 in 2017-18 to 1,286 in 2021-22.
 
In the last financial year, total police force numbers declined across the state, down from 17,727 in June 2021 to 17,659 in June 2022.
 
This compounds the failure of the NSW Liberal National Government to meet its own 2019 election promise to recruit an additional 1,500 police officers.
 
Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
 
“Households and families in our city’s south west have the right to feel safe in their community.
 
“Under the Liberals and Nationals, we have seen gang violence escalate, while police numbers declined.
 
“My fear is that thousands of people are moving into suburbs like Harrington Park, Gledswood Hills, Carnes Hill, Austral and Denham Court yet the services are not keeping up with this growth.
 
“NSW Labor is going to begin to turn the tide on this concerning trend, and it starts with a boost to police numbers right here in Sydney’s south west.”
 
Quotes attributable to Paul Scully, NSW Shadow Minister for Police:
 
“The Liberals and Nationals have failed to deliver on their promise to boost police numbers, and to keep our police officers adequately supported.
 
“After 12 years it is time for a fresh start and this begins with investing in our hard working police officers who keep our communities safe.”
 
Quotes attributable to Sally Quinnell, NSW Labor candidate for Camden:
 
“People in my community are concerned about burglaries and crime, yet the Liberal government has not delivered the necessary support to combat this.
 
“Families in my community deserve to feel safe and I am proud that a Minns Labor Government will invest in policing and keep the community safe.”
 
Quotes attributable to Nathan Hagarty, NSW Labor candidate for Leppington:
 
“Every day I hear from families in south west Sydney who feel they are being left behind when it comes to government services.”
 
“The Liberal National government has driven huge population growth in this region but have not delivered the services and infrastructure to keep up with this.”

CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER
 
PAUL SCULLY MP
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR POLICE