NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam and Shadow Minister for Police Mike Gallacher said today Morris Iemma and his part-time Police Minister John Watkins' rundown of police numbers was putting the public at risk. 

"Labor's cuts in police numbers started when now part-time Minister John Watkins had the portfolio the first time. Labor has cut 650 police over the last three years and the sign at Castle Hill Station is proof it's impacting on frontline police resources," Mr Debnam said.  

"Morris Iemma and his part-time Police Minister John Watkins have a softly-softly approach to policing and they simply aren't providing our frontline police with the resources they need," he said.

"To have one of the state's major police stations – which serves dozens of suburbs – closed overnight this week shows how far NSW has fallen behind under Morris Iemma. I want to get NSW back in front.  

"Frontline police are frustrated by cutbacks in government resources and the sign posted in the Castle Hill Police Station window reveals the level of frustration.

"The Police Force should not be so rundown that one officer calling in sick forces the closure of a major suburban station.  

"That's why I will increase the number of highway patrol officers by 300 so general duties police can concentrate on doing their jobs and highway patrol officers can focus on making our roads safer," Mr Debnam said.

Mr Gallacher said he is regularly contacted by frontline police expressing their frustration at the rundown in police numbers.

"The Hills district is one of the fastest-growing areas in the state and it should be getting more police, not less," Mr Gallacher said.

"NSW police deserve the full support of government, not the softly-softly media-driven strategies they get from Labor. The NSW Liberal/Nationals is committed to a locally led, locally based Police presence something that Labor has failed to deliver," he said.