By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Police resourcing in Geelong is akin to moving the deck chairs on the Titanic, according to Police Association secretary Ron Iddles.
Mr Iddles was responding to the comments of Geelong’s top cop last week, admitting the crime situation in Geelong was dire.
The Indy reported that Superintendent Daryl Clifton had broken ranks with Victoria Police command on the eve of his retirement to slam Geelong policing resourcing and the justice system.
Supt Clifton said the state justice system was releasing juveniles who were committing multiple offences and a police force that was struggling to cope.
“(Police) management have been intent on moving deck chairs on the Titanic – finally someone has noticed we’re sinking,” Mr Iddles told the Indy this week.
“There’s no doubt that crime is on the rise and that what Victoria Police is currently doing to deal with it is not working.
“Unfortunately we are of the strong view that this rise in crime is directly linked to the diminishing number of police available in places like Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, a situation that police management in Geelong have only in recent months argued was adequate.
“When the most senior police member in a region takes a stand and says we have a problem, you can be assured that there is a genuine problem.
“It means that it is time to stop the political spin about increases to ‘police personnel’, crime stats and do what we know works and that is giving places like Geelong and the peninsula police numbers commensurate with the growth of their community.
“This is not a situation limited to Geelong, however. Like other police service areas that accommodate growth corridors, the situation for members and the community is quite bad.
“Members working in Geelong and regional stations have been telling us for years that they are overworked, exhausted and unable to meet basic demand.
“Smaller communities have had the doors of their stations closed, now only replaced with counter services when what they really need are more police on the street to meet demand.
“These are issues the Police Association has been raising for two years in Geelong, only to be told by local management (that) everything is fine.
“There needs to be truth in policing and senior members should be able to tell it like it is without fear of reprisals.
“Unless this happens the issue highlighted by Supt Clifton will never be properly addressed.”
