Cops slam state over removal of car parks union warns of ‘huge’ safety risk

Alex de Vos
Geelong police fear criminals could attack them in the street after State Government wiped out their station’s car park, according the force’s union boss.
Police Association Senior Sergeant Greg Davies said officers were furious the Government had torn up the car park to make way for a pedestrian link between Geelong Railway Station and central Geelong.
The project was forcing officers to walk as far as two kilometres to their cars at “intrusive” hours.
Snr Sgt Davies labelled the Government project a “huge safety concern” for police.
The officers previously had quick, relatively secure access to their cars behind the station after finishing late-night shifts.
“What happens now if a member locks up a couple of violent offenders then knocks off at 11pm they could end up meeting these people again in the streets,” Snr Sgt Davies said.
“It sets police up for confrontations with offenders who they’ve dealt with earlier in the night – it’s a huge safety issue.
“I know that people ask ‘Why should coppers get parks?’ but they’re not dealing with the criminal element of the community on a daily basis – they’re not dealing with repeat offenders with previous convictions for assaulting police.”
Snr Sgt Davies accused the Government of compromising the lives of Geelong police to save commuters walking an extra 50 metres to the city centre.
“It (the project) does nothing more than create an access to the waterfront, which is 50 metres short of the current walk.”
Snr Sgt Davies said the $24 million rejuvenation of Geelong Railway Station had “frustrated and outraged” police.
“They feel as though they’ve been let down and their efforts aren’t appreciated.
“They work in a busy environment that is incredibly under-resourced and they don’t feel like they’re being supported by their employer, which is the Government.”
Snr Sgt Davies said the Police Association would lobby state and local government to resolve the safety issue.
“If one of our members is assaulted in the long hike to find their vehicle then they’ll be hearing about it,” he vowed.
A spokesperson for the Minister for Planning Justin Madden had not returned the Independent’s call for comment before the paper went to press.