The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath has accused the Allan Labor Government of “not prioritising community safety”.
Ms Bath took Labor to task in state parliament calling action after it was revealed that eastern Victoria police watchhouses including Moe are being shut due to a lack of resources.
“The community deserves to know what other watchhouses are closed and why specialist crime investigation teams are being cut.
“Watchhouses temporarily hold alleged criminals for investigation, processing, and mental health assessments.
“Crime in eastern Victoria is rising – we need our officers on the streets and not tied up transporting alleged criminals for processing when it can be done locally.”
Victoria Police’s most recent annual report discloses there was 318 less full time equivalent (FTE) police officers in Victoria than the year prior.[1]
Ms Bath said Labor’s focus is on camouflaging a crime crisis and not keeping people and children safe.
“It is hard to defend resource shuffling that’s resulted in officers being pulled from the sexual offences and child abuse investigations team (SOCIT), highway patrol and Central Investigations Unit in Cardinia and Casey.[2]
“Police are clearly under resourced in eastern Victoria, and our hardworking officers are struggling to get criminal off the streets.
“The thin blue line is stretching thinner and it’s any wonder residents are telling me that they feel less safe at home and in public.
“Despite Labor’s claims, Southern Metro Division 2 that covers Cardinia and Casey are operating with 36.5 less FTE officers as compared to 2023.[3]
“The community’s experiences are reinforced by the crime statistics that reveal a 31.1 per cent increase in criminal incidents in the region over the past 10 years under Labor.[4]
“Labor can’t manage police resourcing, can’t manage rising crime and Victorians are paying the price.”
A response to Ms Bath’s question is due 14 August 2024.
[1] Page 60 -https://www.police.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/Victoria-Police-Annual-Report-2022-23.pdf – 2022 – 16,138 FTE, 2023 – 15,820 FTE
[2] https://www.police.vic.gov.au/police-number-region
[3] https://www.police.vic.gov.au/police-number-region police numbers Division 4 and Division 5, Eastern Region FTE 2024 and 2023 comparison
[4] Crime statistics agency criminal incidents by local government area https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/crime-statistics/latest-crime-data-by-area
