LNP Shadow Police Minister Trevor Watts has demanded the Palaszczuk Labor Government restores the 44 police officers it has cut from the Gold Coast as crime in the region soars.

Mr Watts was joined by Shadow Attorney-General David Janetzki and LNP Member for Mudgeeraba Ros Bates at Nerang Police Station today.

“It beggars belief that Labor has cut police numbers on the Gold Coast in the middle of a crimewave,” Mr Watts said.

“Since Annastacia Palaszczuk became Premier, common assault has skyrocketed by 126 per cent on the Gold Coast, serious assaults are up by over 76 per cent and robberies are up by 49 per cent.

“It is a shocking record of failure from a Labor Government that is pathetically soft on crime.

“Labor promised the Gold Coast an extra 44 police at the last election, but it has actually cut 44 police from the region.

“Now senior officers have been told to cut more police to send to Logan. These cuts are putting the Gold Community community at risk and must be reversed.”

Ms Bates said Meaghan Scanlon, Member for Gaven and Labor’s only representative on the Gold Coast, had failed to stand up for the community.

“While Labor is stripping police out of the Gold Coast to send to Logan, we’ve not heard a peep from the Member for Gaven,” Ms Bates said.

“It’s her job to stand up for the community, not sit back while Annastacia Palaszczuk guts our police service and lets crime continue to skyrocket.

“Violent crime has shot up under Annastacia Palaszczuk and domestic violence remains a massive problem too, but all we’ve seen from Labor is cuts, bungles and buck-passing.”

Shadow Attorney-General David Janetzki said the LNP was also backing tougher sentences for violent offenders, as well as extra policing for the Gold Coast.

“Earlier this month, the LNP announced plans to introduce Australia’s toughest laws for child killers,” Mr Janetzki said.

“These laws will establish a new offence of child manslaughter with a mandatory 15-year jail penalty.

“The LNP will also increase the minimum non-parole period for the murder of a child under 18 from 20 to 25 years.

“We need the strongest possible laws in Queensland to protect our innocent and vulnerable children.

“Every flaw and every failure in this system is putting victims and their families at risk.

“A Deb Frecklington LNP Government will ensure that both our police and our laws protect the community. We want Queensland to be the safest place to raise a family.”