Peninsula town’s call for cop boost

MICHELLE HERBISON
ST LEONARDS residents will push for more police in the region following a clandestine drug lab bust this week, according to a community representative.
St Leonards Progress Association secretary Paul Sproule said he already planned to beg Police Minister Peter Ryan for more resources before the discovery of the $15 million drug lab on Manifold Rd.
“We will get on the bandwagon and try to help get some more policemen,” Mr Sproule said.
“The drug lab makes it something a bit more substantial now because it’s alarming for people. If there were more police available in the region we’d see more of a presence in St Leonards.”
Mr Sproule said recent Neighbourhood Watch figures revealed an “alarming” increase in burglaries around the area.
Labor Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney urged the Police Minister in parliament this week to put more police in the region.
The shortage was “constantly” threatening temporary closures of stations at Ocean Grove, Drysdale, Portarlington, Queenscliff and Lara, she said.
Mr Ryan said Geelong would have a share in 850 additional police across Victoria by June 30.
He said he had “relayed (concerns about) Geelong police resources to the Chief Commissioner.”.