African crime gangs not in Geelong — MP
A REPORTED African gang crisis striking Melbourne is not an issue for Geelong, the state’s Police Minister has assured.
“There are different issues that confront Geelong to Melbourne,” Bellarine state Labor MP Lisa Neville said yesterday. “There is no evidence at all of African street gangs in Geelong nor any evidence that they are or will target Geelong.”
The issues of gang violence, crime and bail laws are shaping up to become key issues in the lead-up to November’s state election.
Speaking with the Geelong Advertiser yesterday, Ms Neville said she would not be drawn into politicising the issue, instead opting to concentrate on seeing further reductions in the Victorian crime rate — after the state just post- ed its biggest crime rate drop in more than a decade.
“My focus has been on fixing this issue and improving community safety and reducing crime,” Ms Neville said.
“That’s not about elections, that’s about making our community safe, and that’s going to continue to be my focus.”
Ms Neville said Geelong would benefit from tougher bail laws, set to be passed in coming months.
“We’re stopping that revolving door of people going in, they get bailed, they reoffend,” Ms Neville said. “If you commit a serious offence while you’re already on bail for a serious offence, that’s it, the presumption is absolutely you’re not getting bail again.”
“If you’re going to keep committing these serious offences the law will make sure you’re not bailed.”
Liberal shadow attorneygeneral John Pesutto said State Government criticism of bail laws was hypocritical.
“In 2015, Daniel Andrews softened youth bail laws but now his government is blaming others for the consequences of their decision,” Mr Pesutto said.
“Comments this morning from Police Minister Lisa Neville criticising a decision of the Children’s Court to grant bail to a 17-year-old male accused of violently assaulting a police officer on duty are unbelievable hypocrisy given it’s the very result the Andrews Labor Government wanted when it weakened bail laws over two years ago.”
“There is no evidence at all of African street gangs in Geelong nor any evidence that they are or will target Geelong.” POLICE MINISTER LISA NEVILLE