Share the load
POLICING in the 21st century requires a multifaceted approach.
The key fundamentals of the Peelian Principles, which arose from the policing stewardship of Sir Robert Peel for the Metropolitan Police of 1829, remain as true today as they did then, in that our core objective is to prevent crime and disorder and to gain public approval and respect for both our existence and actions.
Much of our core role remains to respond to calls for support and to detect and prevent crime. But today that is not enough. The communities we serve, and our police, demand more, and rightfully so.
It is no longer sufficient to have a strong reactive policing model; we must have an even stronger proactive and preventive model.
One that is adaptable, flexible and incorporates police working together with communities, government partners and other stakeholders to gain collective agreement in the role we jointly play in achieving reductions in crime and road trauma.
The following examples help illustrate some approaches undertaken by our police across the Geelong, Bellarine, Surf Coast and Colac /Otway area.
Our arrest rate in this area has risen by 14 per cent in the past year, which is great testament to the sustained focus your police have on detecting crime and road policing offending and holding those responsible to account for their actions. Recidivist offenders are responsible for a significant portion of offending and will remain a key focus for local police.
You are well serviced by our frontline uniformed members who provide a 24-hour response and investigation capacity from six of our stations: Geelong, Corio, Waurn Ponds, Colac, Bellarine and Torquay.
The front line is well supported by teams from the Crime Investigation Unit, Crime Scene Services, Sexual Offences Child Abuse Investigation Team, High Volume Crime Team, Divisional Response Unit, Highway Patrol Unit, Family Violence Team, Divisional Liquor Licensing Unit, Event Planning Unit, Youth Tasking Unit and Divisional Intelligence Unit. Prevention: The measure of a good service must consider police and community activity around crime and road trauma prevention.
We continually monitor trends both nationally and internationally and adjust our strategies and operating model to consider new initiatives to address crime patterns.
We have recently begun a trial of a “traceable liquid property marking” product aimed at reducing the incidence of residential burglary. The trial, “Protect /Prevent,” is under way in Norlane and 500 free kits have been given to residents to mark their property. This is supported by signs and other strategies. This is the first of several pilot programs under the banner of the Safety Alliance Victoria. Another recent strategy relates to the management of wanted people and recidivist offenders. Recent operations in other areas of Victoria have identified crime reductions of up to 20 per cent through actively focusing on these people. This effectively reduces their ability to commit crime and through disrupti n g these people our rate of reported crime can only go one way — down. In May a framework to support “disrupting” wanted people of interest across the Geelong, Bellarine, Surf Coast and Colac areas began — Operation ARROW was born. ARROW has led to the arrest of more than 400 people. Interestingly some of those arrested had no knowledge that they were wanted by police because they hadn’t attended court or had moved home since their court appearance. To counter this, in August ARROW distributed 389 letters to wanted people of interest and 134 surrendered to police. What became of those who didn’t surrender? On September 11-12 Geelong Police and Operations Response Unit members began arresting those who were still wanted by police.
The two-day operation resulted in a further 48 arrests and several others were interviewed about offences including theft from vehicles, breaching family violence intervention orders and conduct endangering the lives of others.
We are experiencing an increase in the number of pedestrians injured in the Geelong CBD after being struck by cars. The Highway Patrol Unit recently began Operation Share to educate pedestrians and drivers to better share the road and enforce the road rules. Proactive: The community work police do to discourage crime and provide support, especially to young people, brings a great return on investment in many ways.
Recently police, sponsors and mentors walked the Kokoda Track in New Guinea with a group of young people as part of the Geelong Kokoda Program. The program has been going for five years and has been recognised for the benefit it brings to those involved and to our community.
None of this is achievable without community partners working together for a common goal.
Reported crime is now reducing. These results come from several initiatives and a joint effort from both police and community stakeholders.
I thank you for supporting your local police and working with us to make your community safer.
Remember — reducing crime and road trauma is everyone’s responsibility.
Craig Gillard is Victoria Police Superintendent Divisional Commander for Division 1 Western Region