Member for Pittwater Jacqui Scruby has welcomed 15 new probationary constables deployed across the Northern Beaches and Ku-ring-gai Police Area Commands, delivering a vital boost to local frontline policing.
Following their formal attestation on Friday 21 August, 10 probationary constables have joined the Northern Beaches Police Area Command (PAC), bringing the total number of new police recruits allocated to the command to 79 since March 2023. A further five recruits have commenced duties at Ku-ring-gai PAC, which also covers sections of the Pittwater electorate.
The new officers have now begun 12 months of on-the-job training across local stations.
“I want to extend a warm welcome and my sincere thanks to the new recruits who have made the commendable decision to serve and protect our community,” Ms Scruby said.
“Every resident deserves to feel safe in their neighbourhood, yet our community has experienced a concerning rise in anti-social behaviour and retail crime. We have seen blatant shoplifting, swarming, and coordinated raids targeting local bottle shops and village centres. People want more police and it’s great to have the new recruits starting.
“While Pittwater remains an incredible place to live, we cannot afford to become complacent. Employees are limited in action they can take, so having more police to take enforcement action is welcome as failure to act only emboldens offenders and drives further anti-social conduct.
“Frontline workers in our local shops and businesses should never have to face intimidation, threats, or danger simply for doing their jobs. Alongside increased police visibility, large commercial operators must step up and invest in preventative security measures at high-risk locations.
“I also note the deeply concerning state-wide rise in domestic and family violence, an issue that continues to impact households across our region and demands sustained, proactive policing,” Ms Scruby concluded.
ENDS