State MPs for Currumbin, Jann Stuckey and Tweed Nationals MP Geoff Provest have announced they will work together more closely to help tackle youth crime on either side of the NSW/Queensland border, pledging to back a proposed law and order summit in Tweed Heads on September 23.
“Action must be taken now. In Currumbin electorate we recognised the problems relatively early on, brought the community together through forums with police, have officers on the beat in Coolangatta Friday and Saturday nights, plus the dedicated Southern Alliance task force,” said Ms Stuckey
Mr Provest said crime fighting in the Tweed was hampered by the failure of the Iemma Labor Government to provide sufficient police numbers and the failure of both State Governments to arrange effective communication between the two police forces.
“We have just secured two new Tweed officers, but that is just nowhere near enough,” Mr Provest said.
“In the absence of sufficient police numbers, the community has to step in and that is why the Tweed has one of the strongest Neighbourhood Watch systems in NSW with over 800 active members.”
Mr Provest and Mrs Stuckey said they now wanted to progress law enforcement strategies that would assist police to make our area safer.
“We need to send a strong message to young thugs that their behaviour will not be tolerated and they will be caught and punished,” Mrs Stuckey said.
“We wholeheartedly support Tweed/Byron Local Area Commander Michael Kenny’s law and order public meeting at the Tweed Civic Centre on 23 September,” they said.
Both were critical of their respective premiers for failing to implement cross border initiatives promised in 2007.