MEDIA RELEASE FROM CRAIG INGRAM MP - MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND EAST Issued: Monday 30 October 2006

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Local police numbers stretched: Ingram

Local operational police numbers are being stretched due to the number of members absent on long-term sick leave.
Independent MP for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, has requested that the Police Minister and Chief Commissioner provide additional resources to East Gippsland to cover the number of officers who are unavailable for operational duty.
“I have sought information from the Minister regarding current operational numbers based at the Bairnsdale police station and the number of officers based at Bairnsdale that are currently not available for duty,” Mr Ingram said.

“It has been raised that a number of officers have been on stress leave and other factors, which has caused significant shortfalls in staffing.

“This has resulted in staffing of operational members at Bairnsdale police station to be covered by police from other stations, such as Lakes Entrance.

“A similar situation occurred in 2001 and police command took steps to address the issue after I raised these concerns.

“The Police Minister agreed at the time that the situation could not be sustained without adverse effects.”

Mr Ingram said that support must be given to those on long-term sick leave to ensure they commenced duties as soon as possible, but added that temporary measures must also be put in place to ensure that current operational police were not overworked to the point where they were forced to go on long-term sick leave as well.