Eight ‘is not enough’

ERIN PEARSON
An allocation of eight extra police to Geelong has drawn criticism and disappointment from both sides of state parliament.
Labor Member for Lara John Eren accused Premier Ted Baillieu of “backpedalling” on a promise of 76 additional police, while Liberal Upper House MP David Koch said the region would remain “undermanned”.
Victoria Police announced on Wednesday that Geelong would receive the eight new officers, while Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula stations would receive no additional staff.
More additional police would go to other areas of the start, with Ballarat and Frankston to receive 25 and 35 respectively.
Mr Eren accused Mr Baillieu of failing to deliver his 2007 commitment of more police for Geelong.
“I’ve always maintained police numbers are a matter for police command and political interference would be inappropriate but I make this an issue because Mr Baillieu identified the shortfall and said he would fix that,” he said.
“Now he’s in government it’s time to deliver. You can run but you can’t hide.”
“I’m committed, I won’t let him go.”
Mr Koch, Member for Western Victoria, conceded the allocation for Geelong was a shortfall but was still “grateful” for the eight extra officers.
“I believe that whenever possible a greater number will come to Geelong,” he said.
“Until that time, regrettably, we’ve got to continue to be undermanned.
“When the Bellarine and Torquay police stations were redeveloped we were to have 16-hour manned stations and, regrettably, outside the summer periods we don’t.
“I would love to have seen a three, four or five in front of the eight but police operations know where their hottest spots are.”
Geelong Superintendent Paul Pottage said two of the eight new officers had already arrived.
They would focus “heavily” on combating youth crime in Geelong, he said.
“A lot of thefts, crime, drug behaviour and traffic issues are driven by the under-20s, particularly around Corio and Geelong,” Supt Pottage said.
“The more interaction we can have with them the better. Everyone wants more police but that’s the tightrope we walk.”
Supt Pottage said the other six officers, to arrive in May, would be serve in detective and traffic management roles.
More new police would arrive in the next financial year, he said.
Mr Baillieu told state parliament in March that Geelong would receive its “fair share” of officers.