Eyes in the sky to combat crime
GOLD Coast police have a new weapon in the skies to combat crime after the council approved funding today for a police helicopter.
The council will provide $500,000 for a six-month trial of a police helicopter on the Gold Coast.
Mayor Ron Clarke said the helicopter would help to promote the Gold Coast as a safe community.
“Police are very enthusiastic about it now, and the government seems to be enthusiastic about it,” Cr Clarke said.
This was not the first time that the mayor has pushed for a helicopter for the region.
The idea was floated several months ago, but it received a luke warm response from Queensland police who believe the resources could be better used elsewhere in the state.
Cr Clarke said the position had changed because of the rising fear about crime on the coast.
“We owe this to ourselves and our residents,” Cr Clarke said.
“We are not the crime capital of the world, or Australia, or even the South East.”
Cr Clarke said a helicopter would change the perception of what visitors think about the Gold Coast, which is contrary to the crime statistics reported by police that shows low crime numbers compared to population.
