By Luke Voogt
Waurn Ponds residents have likely failed to secure extended counter hours at their police station following a public forum on Wednesday night.
“It’s our intention to continue with the opening hours as they are,” Geelong Acting Inspector Michael Cruse told the Indy on Thursday.
The reduced Waurn Ponds station times allowed 200 extra patrol hours during a three-month trial period, he said.
The extra hours equalled 25 two-police patrol shifts, Act Insp Cruse told the forum.
“Initially there were some concerns around the opening hours but once we were able to explain the extra patrols they could see the rationale for our decision.”
Act Insp Cruse said police would continue to deploy from the station while the counter was closed.
Other Geelong stations would answer all calls to Waurn Ponds and direct police on patrols in the area where they were needed, he said.
“But if you need police at your location call triple zero – it’s the way we dispatch all calls.”
Act Insp Cruse said Victoria Police Western Regional Command would make a decision on the station hours in coming weeks.
Waurn Ponds Senior Sergeant Angelo Ferrara said the station’s strategy was paying dividends.
“For the size our station our members are really doing well.”
Waurn Ponds was seventh in the state for producing briefs of evidence for court, Sen Sgt Ferrara said.
“To be ranked seventh in the state out of all the 24-hour police stations is quite significant. We catch crooks by being out on the road not sitting behind a desk.”
But South Barwon MP Andrew Katos said local police should not have to choose.
“I understand the police’s position but they are under-resourced.
“They should be able to do those patrol hours and offer counter service.”
Mr Katos said the station should remain open for administrative matters, domestic violence reports and for people to talk to police.
But Mr Katos said additional police scheduled for Geelong would be unlikely to reach Waurn Ponds for several months.
* New police ‘over four years’, page 11
