YESTERDAY’S announcement of a new violent crime task force on the Gold Coast was bittersweet for the people who fought for the extra manpower.

The Queensland Government’s decision for a violent crimes task force on the Gold Coast came two days after the death of detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding.

Sen Const Leeding was shot in the head on Sunday after responding to an armed robbery at Pacific Pines.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said for months he had warned that without a special investigative unit for the Gold Coast, it was only a matter of time before there was a life lost.

“I never expected it to be one of our members,” Mr Leavers said.

“While this (announcement) will not bring him back, hopefully it will stop the heartache,” he said.

Mr Leavers said he told Queensland Premier Anna Bligh that a task force was required when she called him on Tuesday night.

He had campaigned for the unit for months, but that was the first time he talked directly to the Premier about it.

“It’s a start and will certainly go some way in reigning in the out-of-control, armed robbery epidemic currently in the Gold Coast,” he said.

Tweed Byron police command has announced they won’t be setting up a similar squad but will continue to work with Queensland police to address the problem.

Inspector Jim Cain said a dedicated team of detectives was continuing to investigate recent violent crimes in Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah and Condong.

“Investigations are continuing into these incidents and we are liaising with Queensland police,” Insp Cain said.

“It’s not uncommon for them (violent crimes) to be linked to similar incidents across the border.”

Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said the decision to create a violent-crime task force for the Gold Coast, made up of 18 detectives, was in response to the spike in armed robberies in the region.

“Consequently, today, I have provided to Assistant Commissioner Wilson 15 detectives from State Crime Operations Command, to be joined by three detectives from South Eastern Region.”

The task force will commence work next week.

EPIDEMIC?

Gold Coast Police responded to 58 armed robberies and 62 unarmed robberies so far this year.