More police and new police stations

The Hodgman Liberal Government will take police numbers to the next level with new investment of $36.8 million in this years’ State Budget

We are committed to boosting police numbers by a further 125 sworn officers and embarking on a $10 million dollar build of new police stations.

Tasmania is a great place to live, work and build your future– and we’re committed to Keeping Tasmanians Safe.

The majority of the new police officers will be deployed to frontline duties at first-response main Police Stations and in regional and rural stations around the State to complement existing establishment levels.

This investment will include resourcing specialist crystal methamphetamine (ice) investigators to provide a specific focus on ice-related drug activity.

The Hodgman Liberal Government will also invest $240,000 to support the re‑establishment of a full‑time core Special Operations Group to enhance rapid response to terrorism incidents, high‑risk police operations and other emergencies.

The 2018-19 Budget allocates a further $100,000 to Tasmania Police to undertake a Capability Review that will include environmental scanning of the future policing environment to ensure that the organisation is well positioned to continue to deliver high quality services to the community into the future.

The $10 million investment in the construction of police stations will see new purpose-built facilities at New Norfolk and Longford. In regional areas, police stations are particularly important and help build a positive working relationship between police and the community they serve and the new stations will be a contemporary, well-equipped base for policing activities.

Policing is a high-risk occupation and we understand the need to improve the safety of our Police officers and the wider community. As a result, the 2018-19 Budget will fund the completion of the implementation project for body-worn cameras and commence roll out of equipment this year at a capital cost of $716,000.

A further $5 million is provided to continue to upgrade police housing statewide to provide police officers with suitable secure and contemporary accommodation in regional and remote areas.

The 2018-19 State Budget is further evidence that the Hodgman Liberal Government is Delivering on our Plan and Building Your Future.