Mount Isa City Council is looking at ways its staff can work with police to address crime in the central business district, the mayor said.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"We've talked to the Mount Isa police about Council supplying a local laws officer to work hand in hand with a Police Liaison Officer," Mayor Danielle Slade said.
"Initially it would be a three month trial, having two people patrol the CBD on Friday and Saturday nights."
Cr Slade said there would be mutual benefit as local laws officers have cameras on their vests and PLOs have a radio with access to the police.
"If they find anyone who is probably not should be where they are, check what they are doing on maybe move them on," she said.
"So that's why we are looking at our local laws and giving officers a few more powers."
Cr Slade was speaking after Commerce North West tabled a letter to Council at the last ordinary meeting on Wednesday.
The letter written by chamber president Emma Harman said they wanted to partner with Council in a City Safe program where the CCTV cameras are monitored in real time.
Council have been unable to provide a resource for the program so Commerce North West has been talking with NWQICSS (North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Service) who already do night patrols in the city to transport kids home or to the youth hub.
"While there are some details to be ironed out, there is potential for this partnership to work for all parties," Ms Harman said in the letter to Council.
"NWQICSS will have better knowledge of where the kids are to assist them better and businesses will be safer because of the level of property damage would be reduced."
Ms Harman said she did not want to see the CBD reduced to streets with armour-plated grilles, roller doors and steel shutters.
"That does nothing for the beautification of the city, or the sense of security and safety we want our residents and visitors to feel," she said.
"Rather than creating a frontier mentality where people hunker down to be safe Commerce North West would rather find solutions that reclaim our streets and improve business conditions for everyone."
The letter said it would cost $40,000 to pay the wages of someone to monitor the cameras five nights a week.
READ ALSO: Qld approaches COVID zero
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
Bookmark https://www.northweststar.com.au/
Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Google News
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
