By NOEL MURPHY
ADVERTISING new police station opening hours across the Bellarine Peninsula is an open invitation to criminals, the Police Association has warned.
Victoria Police’s efforts to promote two-day a week operations at Queenscliff, Portarlington and Drysdale and new opening hours at Ocean Grove made no sense, association spokesman Greg Davies said.
“Why advertise that you’re only going to be here eight hours a day? That’s saying to the crims: ‘The rest of the time, knock yourself out’.
“Call me old fashioned but I don’t think you advertise when you’re not around.”
Victoria Police has issued the new times following community feedback over “irregular” opening hours.
The new hours would allow “residents to easily attend and speak to police face to face”.
Bellarine station Senior Sergeant Angelo Ferrara said police recognised the public’s “difficulty” in finding stations open.
“The Bellarine Peninsula stations have previously opened their counter service at irregular times throughout the week, so this will provide consistency for residents when they need counter service.”
Sen-Sgt Davies said opening hours should be irregular to discourage criminal activity in towns where only one or two officers opened stations two days a week.
“Why tell the crooks in advance? Normally, and having worked in regional Victoria, when you can’t open 24 hours a day you don’t publish when you’re not going to be there.
“It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
The new operating times from Monday are: Bellarine Police Station, Ocean Grove, 8am to 8pm seven days a week, extended to 10pm in summer; Queenscliff, 8am to 4pm, Tuesday and Thursday; Portarlington, 8am to 4pm, Tuesday and Thursday; Drysdale, 8am to 4pm, Monday and Wednesday.
