Fear not: We've got the rhino
IPSWICH CBD business owners fear they will be forgotten by police when the beat office in the mall moves to the other side of the Bremer River.
Police Minister Jack Dempsey earlier this month announced the Ipswich Police Beat in the mall would shift to Riverlink shopping centre.
Ipswich superintendent Garth Pittman said officers at the Riverlink Police Beat would have use of the Rhino all-terrain vehicle, plus pushbikes to help cover the distances between the CBD and Riverlink quickly.
Shoppers can expect to see the Rhino zipping across the Bradfield Bridge in the near future.
Superintendent Pitman said yesterday the move to Riverlink would not jeopardise the police beat officers' ability to patrol or respond to calls for assistance in the mall.
But while the minister's announcement was accompanied by a promise of more effective policing on either side of the Bradfield Bridge, several worried business owners have since contacted local area councillor Andrew Antoniolli with questions about how the change would affect policing in the mall, Bell St and the Top of Town.
City traders and Cr Antoniolli said they wanted the opportunity to speak with police about future plans.
CBD Traders Advisory Group chairman Bob Slater said shopkeepers in the mall had enjoyed an excellent relationship with existing police beat officers.
"The CBD police beat has been fantastic and the police presence has really settled things down," Mr Slater said.
"I am sure the Queensland Police Service has plans on how they are going to handle the move - but we'd like to hear them."
Cr Antoniolli, a former policeman, wanted a QPS assurance that help would still be close for those in more established parts of the CBD.
"I have some concerns about the police presence on the southern side, especially considering that most calls for service come from that area," he said.
Supt Pitman said police were confident of being able to cover the Riverlink area, as well as the Bradfield and David Trumpy bridges, Bell St and the mall as part of the one precinct.
Once included in the Karana Downs division, the Riverlink precinct was annexed earlier this year to become part of Ipswich.
The police beat is now a two-officer station with an administration assistant. However, the possibility of more officers taking up a post at Riverlink hasn't been ruled out.
