Call for shop cops

Is there value in placing police in Geelong’s major shopping centre? The State Opposition thinks so, with Matthew Guy making an election pledge to permanently place police in Westfield Geelong.

Would be more effective near the bus stop in Little Malop St. Manda Quinlivan

Value? To protect the people who simply want to shop, not abused by the special selection of individuals who would rather be doing whatever than schooling and work. Igor Ivanitskiy

They have been in Qld shopping centres for years. Called police beat. Danielle Green

Good to see Matthew Guy has some plans to micromanage the distribution of police officers. That will poll well with the oldies! What if the police inspectors got to choose where to send their officers maybe they could send them to places where crime is occurring? Rohan Davis

Open it up in the mall. Isaac Kotschner

Less police out on the road as a result. David Edwards

Same Liberal party that decimates police numbers when they’re in government? Talk big on crime, but don’t actually have a plan to tackle it. Brett Robb

The vacant store in Little Malop St at market square would be better Mathew Hood

Great idea! The more the merrier! Something has to be done! Karen Taig

As long as it is extra staff. Trying to do more with existing staff would be a terrible idea. Paul Taff Williams

It would be most effective near the Westpac/Bendigo Bank, that way they can cover Westfield, Market Square, the mall, and the bus interchange. Benjamin Garry Hales

Yes! With the amount of crime around, especially youth crime, it is absolutely necessary! My partner is a store manager at a local BWS and you’d be surprised how many people, particularly people under age, come in and shoplift! He witnesses it just about every week and has to make police reports and submit footage from the security cameras to the police. Kimberley Wood