Ten shootings in Sydney in 10 days
Posted: Wednesday, 11 April 2012 | By: John Robertson
The NSW Labor Opposition has called on Premier O'Farrell to convene an urgent crisis meeting to deal with the out of control shootings plaguing Sydney streets – after the tenth shooting in just ten days took place overnight.
Last night, police were called after a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his leg presented at Westmead Hospital just after midnight.
Yesterday afternoon, a man was shot in the stomach in broad daylight in Guildford.
"With ten shootings in just ten days and 81 shootings since Barry O'Farrell took office, it's clear that gun crime in Sydney is out of control," Opposition Leader, John Robertson said today.
"The Premier needs to call an urgent crisis meeting to ensure police are getting all the resources and tools they need to crackdown on the shootings plaguing Sydney streets.
"Instead of taking action to crackdown on the 81 shootings that have occurred under his government, the Premier has left Greater Sydney police stations critically understaffed by 242 officers.
"How will our police officers put an end to the shootings terrorising western and south western Sydney families night after night if they are understaffed by 242 officers?
"The O'Farrell Government should also offer cash rewards to anyone who comes forward with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the thugs involved in the shootings.
"Police have expressed their frustration at the wall of silence surrounding these shootings.
"There are people living in these neighbourhoods who have information that could assist police – but they are keeping their mouths shut. We need cash rewards to encourage people to come forward and talk."
Shadow Police Minister, Nathan Rees said: "The residents of western and south western Sydney are living in fear of the gun battles playing out on their local streets."
"It is abundantly clear to everyone except our Premier that the situation is out of control.
"We need an urgent crisis meeting convened now between government and senior police to help bring an end to these shootings.
"Our police deserve all the resources and tools available to help end the worst spate of shootings in a decade, but instead we are seeing Sydney police numbers cut on the O'Farrell Government's watch."
Tags: Barry O'Farrell, crime, John Robertson, law and order, police, shootings