South Barwon MP Andrew Katos has rejected claims the coalition State Government is responsible for Geelong’s rising crime.
Mr Katos pointed out that the Geelong police service area would by July have 34 more staff than in the last days of the previous Labor government.
He was responding to shadow police minister Jacinta Allan, who said Geelong residents had “every right to be angry” at the Government for a 3.5 per cent increase in reported crime over the previous 12 months.
She blamed “savage budget cuts” to Victoria Police.
Mr Katos said the Government had in fact made an “unprecedented investment” in the state’s police resources.
“We are delivering 1700 extra frontline police members and 940 Victoria Police protective services officers on railway stations that were ignored under Labor,” he said.
Recently released statistics showed the rise in overall crime for the Geelong region included a 30 per cent jump in assaults.
