Geelong Advertiser

Vans to combat crime in city

- OLIVIA SHYING

MOBILE police vans and military-style weapons could be deployed to Geelong as the State Government works with police to address community concerns about behaviour in the CBD.

Geelong police have also committed to extending their successful, high-profile Operation City Safe after noting a significan­t drop in anti-social behaviour and public drunkennes­s.

Senior Sergeant Mick Turner said a visible police presence in troubled areas, including Little Malop St, had reduced community fear and led to significan­t arrests.

Officers, including from the mounted branch, have been patrolling the city centre as part of Operation City Safe.

“There has been a significan­t decrease in drunkennes­s in the mall,” Sen-Sgt Turner said.

Due to the success of the operation, police have opted to keep it “rolling”.

Despite this, the State Government is not supporting an Opposition and mayoral push to develop a permanent police kiosk in Geelong’s CBD.

The Government has instead committed $5 million to buy five mobile police vans that would be used in highneed areas, including Geelong.

The new mobile police stations have the flexibilit­y to be rolled out across the state to any location that police need as a part of their operationa­l requiremen­ts.

They can also be used at events and at crime areas to provide reassuranc­es and a mobile command unit during any incidents.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said Geelong police had advanced CCTV capability, which constantly monitors the CBD, and they do regular patrols.

“Geelong police will be able to use new mobile police stations, which will have communicat­ions and covert capacity, and the ability to link into local CCTV,” Ms Neville said.

“We want to ensure that wherever you live, whether it’s Geelong or other parts of regional Victoria, police have the skill and capability to protect themselves and the community.”

The State Government is also investigat­ing Geelong, among other sites, as possible locations for a military firearms training ground, where long-arm firearms would be stored and specialise­d police would train.

The Government has committed $25 million to the project to purchase the weapons and train staff.

The weapons will not be used during patrol and police will have significan­t training to access them.

“There has been a significan­t decrease in drunkennes­s in the mall.” SENIOR SERGEANT MICK TURNER

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