Cop union in Craigieburn staffing miscount
Simon Craig
05May08
THE Police Association has conceded its recent alarming report on officer numbers at Craigieburn station did not count eight trainee officers.
It also appears the association undercounted the number of regular officers on duty by three.
The Leader reported last month claims contained in an association press release that a March 12 survey of Craigieburn station "showed that police numbers were down 64 per cent", from 37 designated operational positions to just 13.
The remaining positions were either vacant, or officers were on leave or secondment.
But last week association spokesman Sandro Lofaro conceded the survey did not account for eight trainee officers on duty.
"If there was an omission on our part we apologise," Mr Lofaro said, adding that the survey was concerned primarily with identifying the number of fully-trained officers "missing from the police station".
"I think our point is that Craigieburn just can't afford to have uniformed staff off the roster," he said.
Hume Insp Eoghan McDonald, who vigorously disputed the figures at the time of their release, said it was important the association "makes sure they are right".
But Insp McDonald said he fully backed the association's campaign for better resourcing.
"We are under stress in terms of providing services and managing the demand upon the police," he said.
"That problem hasn't gone away; that's something that we are at one with the Police Association on."
Insp McDonald said retaining staff at Craigieburn was one of the biggest challenges he faced.
"We are constantly getting junior staff up there."
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