Hanson wants 'Force' back with Qld police

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is calling for the Queensland Police Service to be called a "force" and for officers to have greater pursuit powers.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is calling for the Queensland Police Service to be called a "force" (AAP)

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson wants the Queensland Police Service to go back to being called the Queensland Police Force, and for police to be given more powers.

Senator Hanson has visited the regional centre of Townsville to talk to locals about crime concerns.

She says changing the name of Queensland's police body will be high on her agenda if One Nation finds itself in a position of power after the next state election, due by early 2018.

"Let's have a police force back, it's not a service, it's a force, let's get tough on this," Senator Hanson told reporters at Townsville airport on Thursday.

The Queensland Police Force was renamed the Queensland Police Service in 1990 as a measure to help regain public trust after widespread corruption was exposed by the Fitzgerald Inquiry in the late 1980s.

Senator Hanson also flagged a review of police pursuit policy, saying officers should be allowed to decide whether to continue a chase.

"It should be at police discretion whether to chase criminals in cars," she said.

"They do it in NSW and it works."

The Queensland Police Union has been calling for both measures for some time, and welcomed Senator Hanson's support

"These policies have both been long standing positions held by the Queensland Police Union and we welcome them gaining Senator Hanson's support to make them a reality and assist police throughout Queensland."

Townsville and the far north of the state are experiencing heightened crime rates across a range of offences from homicide to petty theft.

Ms Hanson's two-day visit to to the city coincided with a visit by shadow attorney-general Ian Walker, who was also there to spruik his Liberal National Party's tough-on-crime stance.

Queensland's LNP opposition is facing increasing pressure to declare whether it will preference One Nation at the upcoming election, with the Palaszczuk Labor government already ruling out any deal with the minor party.


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Source: AAP



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