What price on peace of mind?

Mark Bransdon

The issue of police numbers in Kiama has been raised again, this time by the State Opposition.

Opposition police spokesman Mike Gallacher says the police claim that Kiama is manned 24 hours a day (because there is always at least one car assigned to the area) is a “smoke and mirrors act”.

Naturally, Chief Inspector Bob Noble, who is in charge of the Kiama area, disagrees.

There is no doubt police have their work cut out for them. They have a thankless task and issues such as this, where there is a perception that they are being criticised, only inflame their sensitivities.

But one does have to wonder why the NSW Government was once able to afford to have a physical police presence at Kiama Police Station, but can’t do so now.

And this is an issue that goes far beyond Kiama.

Even Highway Patrol cars seem few and far between these days.

Drive through western Queensland and you will see the difference. You will pass a Highway Patrol car every 100km or so. The result? You keep and eye on your speed and stick to the road rules.

Drive through western NSW and you’d be lucky to see one every 1000km. The result, then, is that a driver will take the risk to drive a bit faster!

Obviously it costs a lot to run a Highway Patrol car – or to physically man a police station. But what price do you put on people’s peace of mind, whether they are in a car on an open road or in their home and louts are running riot?