A Canberra Liberals government will add 200 new police officers in the ACT along with a standalone police station in Molonglo as part of its community safety package.

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said on Thursday that as part of its policing and crime prevention policy the Canberra Liberals would also commit:

• $5 million for upgrades to the Woden police station;
• progress options for a new Civic police station; and
• continue to transition the Gungahlin JESC into a standalone police station.

Ms Lee said in addition, the Canberra Liberals would make changes to the ACT judicial system including:

• amend bail laws to protect frontline workers and combat recidivist offending by removing presumption of bail for offenders who assault frontline workers;
• establish a standalone offence for breach of bail;
• introduce electronic monitoring of serious offenders on bail;
• crack down on dangerous driving and introduce tougher penalties for the offences of culpable driving;
• introduce tougher penalties for ‘coward punch’ attacks by introducing a standalone criminal offence; and
• introduce ‘Jack’s law’ to support police to reduce serious knife crimes.

“A Canberra Liberals government will re-prioritise community safety through boosting our police force, building a stronger justice system, and bringing our laws back into line with community expectation,” she said.

“Labor and the Greens have seriously eroded public confidence in our justice system. A Canberra Liberals government will deliver a comprehensive suite of initiatives that will restore confidence and trust in our justice system,” Ms Lee concluded.

Shadow Minister for Police James Milligan said the ACT has the lowest number of police per capita in the country and an extra 200 police officers will bring the ACT in line with NSW.

“Whilst the Labor-Greens government continues to neglect our frontline police officers, the Canberra Liberals understand the basic needs for the safety of our community and have long fought for more police officers in the ACT along with providing the resources they need,” Mr Milligan said.