Frontline cops now run watchhouse

IT’S big, shiny and looks very impressive but the new Ipswich Police Station is proving to be a headache for frontline police officers.

Queensland Police Union (QPU) members from the Ipswich district on Friday discussed their concerns about the new station with QPU president Ian Leavers.

The meeting at Ipswich police headquarters in Yamanto was a regular monthly meeting but there was nothing ordinary about police concerns.

Mr Leavers released a statement after the meeting that spelled out how worried police are about the effect of the new station on staffing levels.

“There are ongoing concerns with staffing levels in the Ipswich police district since the opening of the new Ipswich Police Station and watchhouse as more staff are now required to operate the new watchhouse,” Mr Leavers said.

“Frontline police are being removed from their duties to fill these watchhouse roles.

“At this stage the Queensland Police Union is in negotiation with the Queensland Police Service to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

Elected QPU president last July, Mr Leavers spent 15 years as a police officer in Ipswich, serving in general duties, the traffic branch and the Child Protection and Investigation Unit.

Just days after he was elected, he said more police needed to be on Ipswich streets to cope with the city’s escalating growth.

The Ipswich Police Station is part of the new $92 million Ipswich courthouse complex on Ellenborough Street in the CBD.

The courthouse created interest for the wrong reason after it was open when The Queensland Times revealed the State Government spent $120,000 on art work on the first floor made up of a collage of wooden slats, tail lights, ice-cube trays and other random objects.