Paper Petition

The petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the
attention of the house:

We object to the removal of the Police Beat from Arndale Shopping Centre
for the following reasons:

• Having Police Beat within Arndale Shopping Centre allows easy
access to Police Services by retailers within both Arndale Shopping
Centre and Springwood Mall.
• A dramatic reduction in thefts/shoplifting within Arndale has
been noticed since Police Beat set up within the centre. We believe
theft will rise once Police Beat are not patrolling regularly.
• Public knowledge of where Police Beat is at Arndale Shopping
Centre is very high.
• Police Beat is accessible by all the community via public
transport to the centre.

It is understood that there is a proposal to place the Police Beat in a
house rather than in a shopfront. Our objection to this is as follows:

• The comparative cost of purchasing a house and fitting it out is
much greater than staying at Arndale Shopping Centre. This money could
be better spent on additional police for the area.
• We believe a house would be less accessible to the retailers of
both centres as well as the community as a whole.
• Lower socio-economic groups without transport may find it harder
to access a house. Any bus services that would be offered could not
compare with the number of services to Arndale Shopping Centre.

Our petitioners therefore request the House to retain the Police Beat
within Arndale Shopping Centre.