Kealy slams drop in police numbers
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy wants the State Government to address what she believes is a shortage of police across Victoria.
Ms Kealy said latest Victoria Police data confirmed a fall in the number of new police across the state under Premier Daniel Andrews.
She said an analysis of Victoria Police employee-by-location data for the December 2018 quarter showed Labor provided 2040 additional police and protective services officers during the past four years.
“That’s a staggered 823 less compared with the Coalition government’s total of 2863 between 2010 and 2014,” she said.
Ms Kealy said she was far from impressed with details involving her electorate, which includes the Wimmera, southern Mallee and Western District.
She said Victorian Crime Statistics Agency figures revealed offences in Southern Grampians Shire Council had risen 66.3 percent.
“Our hardworking police officers do an outstanding job with extremely limited resources and are doing their utmost to protect our people, uphold the law and ensure safe communities,” Ms Kealy said.
“Regional Victoria already faces a greater challenge to recruit and retain police. More police and modern, fit-for-purpose facilities are urgently required.
“Daniel Andrews’ cuts to police numbers are only making the problem worse.
“I am calling on the State Government to boost police numbers and provide our local police with the facilities they need to protect our local people.”
Ms Kealy has repeatedly called on the government to provide money to replace Police Station and residence, which is ‘past its use by date and no longer meets service demands and security requirements of a mod- ern station’. Ms Kealy said Hamilton Police Station was also in need of renovation, with ‘holding cells in an unacceptable condition to hold suspects under arrest for more than a few hours’.
“Violent crime is out of control in Victoria and it is unforgivable that the Andrews Labor government has allowed this reduction in police numbers to occur and failed to fund much needed local facility upgrades,” she said.