Change Of Guard
Newcastle Herald
Saturday January 26, 2008
OUTGOING Northern Region chief Peter Parsons believes it is only a matter of time before there are major changes in the Hunter's policing set up, including the introduction of a Port Stephens local area command.
Assistant Commissioner Parsons is also a strong supporter of reintroducing the once-proud regional crime squad to deal with major crimes including murders, armed robberies and drug networks.But Mr Parsons has warned that challenges related to resources and government funding would mean those changes would not happen overnight.Mr Parsons, who has been Northern Region commander since its inception in 2002, left his Newcastle-based post yesterday to take up a role as Special Services Group commander. He will be in charge of the group that looks after the more secretive side of the police force, including surveillance, undercover work and telephone intercepts.Former Newcastle local area commander Assistant Commissioner Lee Shearer will be the new region commander.In a wide-ranging interview yesterday, Mr Parsons said his greatest legacy was the "futures program", a committee looking at policing years down the track to "try to get in front of the pack". The committee could also recommend introducing new commands, such as at Port Stephens."I believe in some stage in the future it will have its own local area command," he said.Mr Parsons said there were several advantages in reintroducing regional crime squads, which were disbanded in the 1990s to "provide a little bit of breathing space" for local detectives to deal with local issues.
© 2008 Newcastle Herald