Crims running rampant
Residents tell police ...
LEOPOLD residents are working to develop a pilot community safety network combining Neighbourhood Watch with an online presence after more than 300 locals packed into a crime forum this week.
Many residents shared their own horror stories on Tuesday night, while others raised issues surrounding police resources and youth offenders.
Chaired by senior local police and Police Minister Lisa Neville, they said a “cohort of youth” were proving a significant challenge, with 60 per cent of the region’s offenders aged under 25.
But for one Drysdale family, the damage had already been done.
“We had more than $100,000 worth of items stolen a few weeks ago and we are gutted. We’re living on a knife’s edge. It’s wrecked us mentally,” John told the crowd.
“Our kids can’t sleep, they’re not focusing on school, our whole lives are ruined.
“Our kids are arming themselves with baseball and cricket bats.”
Other residents questioned whether Leopold needed its own police station. They asked what was driving crime and called for the adult sentencing age to be reduced to 14.
Residents have vowed to reinstate a Neighbourhood Watch program years after previous attempts failed.
Acting Assistant Commis- sioner Craig Gillard said the region’s high-volume crime unit had arrested 1500 offenders in the past 18 months, with officers confident they were targeting the right people.
Mr Gillard said while youth crime continued to drive the rising crime rate, he argued the community shouldn’t simply give up on region’s challenged teens.
“There are kids that are continually offending and there’s not great prospects for … and the ones that are sad ... then there’s the ones that make you mad by smashing letterboxes and painting walls. We’re trying to re-engage them, there’s two ends of the spectrum but we’re not going to give up on either end,” he said.
“We’re not going to arrest our way out of this.
“Australian youth have one of the highest appetites for ice in the world. It’s been a game changer for us.”
Ms Neville said the State Government wanted to reduce the harm and “lifetime trauma” of crime across the state. She pledged more police for the region with all new officers to come complete with new police vehicles.
“Yes we need another prison in Victoria. We’ve got more people on remand than ever before,” she said. “There still a lot more to do.”
For more information on the community initiatives residents can visit the Leopold Community Center on Ash Rd. Another crime forum will be held at the Geelong West Town Hall, on Pakington St from 7pm tonight.