Govt defends Christmas Island police level

27 Mar 2011, 12:50 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Federal Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has defended policing levels at Christmas Island.

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Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has defended the number of police on Christmas Island prior to breakouts and riots at its immigration detention centre.

The Australian Federal Police stationed 189 more officers on the island following serious disturbances earlier in March.

Mr Bowen said he was "perfectly satisfied" with the AFP response to the events.

"The AFP moved very quickly back to Christmas Island," he told Network Ten on Sunday, responding to reports that police numbers on the island were scaled back in November 2010.

"Frankly more AFP presence in the broader community wouldn't have made a difference in those early days inside the detention centre."

All 170 detainees who broke out of the centre have been accounted for, and some charges have been laid.

The AFP has rejected allegations of mistreatment of detainees, after police were forced to use tear gas and bean-bag bullets to quell rioters.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott reiterated his call for a tough government response to the rioters.

"We should not give visas to people who have been responsible for destroying taxpayer property and obstructing commonwealth officers," Mr Abbott told Sky News.

"What happened on Christmas Island was a succession of criminal acts, serious criminal offences and the people responsible should be denied Australian citizenship."

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