"It's a good day to commit crime in Queanbeyan then," ACT Magistrate Louise Taylor told a Saturday bail court earlier this month.
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The comment came as Ms Taylor tried to process the extradition of a 27-year-old woman who was wanted in NSW on a revocation of parole warrant.
However the extradition across the border was unable to be processed due to a lack of police on duty in Queanbeyan, with no officers available to transport the woman.
The woman spent an extra two nights in the custody of ACT Police before she could be extradited the following Monday.
It is understood that due to the nature of the warrant the woman would not have been bailed and would have remained in custody had she faced a NSW court. However, due to the strain on policing resources the woman was unable to be processed in the appropriate jurisdiction for two days.
The woman currently remains in the custody of NSW Corrective Services.
The court heard that on the morning of Saturday December 1, Queanbeyan police had only one vehicle on patrol, prompting the response from the ACT magistrate.
It comes after a campaign by the Police Association of NSW which highlighted a lack of staffing and resources in the Monaro district, of which Queanbeyan is the largest station.
Union officials said police numbers at the Queanbeyan station had remained essentially the same for the past two decades, despite the population growing significantly.
It was also said at the time that Queanbeyan was often only serviced by one "car crew" - a patrol car with two officers.
The Queanbeyan police station had also seen a reduction in active officers of as much as 50 per cent due to a combination of sick leave, workplace injuries and suspensions, it was reported at the time.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said Queanbeyan officers assisted with the extradition from the ACT after receiving a request.
"Officers from Monaro Police District conduct duties according to operational needs to target, disrupt, prevent and respond to crime," the spokeswoman said.
"Police numbers are subject to fluctuations due to recruitment of new police, resignations and retirements as well as training, special operations and leave."
Labor candidate for Monaro Bryce Wilson said he was disappointed police had been let down by the state government to ensure they had the necessary resourcing to do their job.
"This is an extraordinary situation, where the NSW Police had insufficient resources to carry out a basic extradition," Mr Wilson said.
"It is remarkable that on that day our police did not have the resources they needed to fulfil a basic cross-border duty."
Member for Monaro, and deputy premier, John Barilaro acknowledged the pressure on Monaro police and their need for greater resources. He pointed to the government's commitment to an extra 1500 police across NSW commands and said residents should maintain confidence in the state's police.
"Community safety is absolutely paramount," Mr Barilaro said.
"The mere presence of a blue uniform puts our minds at ease. These 1500 new recruits will put more police where they are needed – out on the frontline, tackling crime across the state."
