Police about-face on kiosk plan

Alex de Vos
Geelong police have turned their backs on an agreement to open a community-safety hub, according to a federal MP.
Member for Corio Richard Marles accused police of a “disappointing” about-face on plans to build a kiosk staffed with officers in Geelong’s city centre.
Mr Marles said police had approached the Government seeking funding for the safety kiosk to help stamp out violent crime in Geelong’s mall.
But earlier this week Geelong police withdrew from the project citing a staff shortage.
Yesterday police were reported to have denied shelving the safety-hub due to officer shortages.
Police said the hub had been put on a backburner because it was not the best way to allocate resources.
“It’s disappointing the police have done an about-face,” Mr Marles said.
He announced earlier this month that Federal Government would give City of Greater Geelong $300,000 to build the hub. The money would also pay for expansion of the central city’s surveillance camera network and a supervised taxi rank in Brougham Street.
Mr Marles said the about-face would not endanger the Government’s funding to improve safety in the city centre.
“We’ve committed $300,000 to improve safety and the money will be spent,” he said.
“In the meantime, we’ll be talking to the City on how best to spend the money to make our city streets safer.”
The Liberals had promised in the lead-up to November’s federal election to establish a police kiosk in the mall if voters re-elected the party.
The promise was on top of $300,000 from a returned Liberal Government for extra surveillance cameras.
Labor refused to match either commitment before the election.
After the election, Mr Marles began lobbying the new Labor Government for $300,000 to spend on security improvements in central Geelong.
Mr Marles’ funding announcement followed a series of stabbings, bashings and brawls in the city centre.