Geelong needs more police because of escalating crime rates, according to Western Victoria MP Simon Ramsay.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr Ramsay said the Andrews government’s failure to provide enough police was aiding the region’s criminal culture.
“Victoria’s population is growing by 100,000 people each year yet we have less sworn officers and less opening hours at police stations while their ability to enforce law and order is limited by the anti-pursuit policy and two-up rule,” he said.
“The Premier’s general inertia towards the Geelong region means our understaffed police officers have been scrambling to deal with almost 1000 more offences recorded last year compared to the Coalition’s final year in government.
“One full year of Dan Andrews’s soft policies saw an almost 13 per cent rise in Geelong crimes while the Surf Coast Shire was 9 per cent worse.
“This is only part of the bleak legacy we will look back on as the Andrews government era.”
Mr Ramsay said the Premier had put on the facade of proudly announcing a small boost to police numbers on the same day that Geelong crime rates showed an alarming 9 per cent increase in assaults.
“It is time for the Premier to get real, to review his failed policies and find a way to lift police numbers in the Geelong and Bellarine region,” he said.
“There have been six shooting incidents in Geelong in as many weeks and three drive-by attacks this year.
“These disturbing crimes have many residents living in constant fear for their safety, even in their own neighbourhoods.
“The latest crime figures have rationalised those fears, with more than 50 additional weapons and explosive offences reported last year and 1000 more thefts.”
Mr Ramsay said even the quiet Bellarine towns had experienced an increase in crime.
“In Drysdale there’s been a 400 per cent rise in assaults since 2012 and thefts are up 150 per cent in Ocean Grove compared to 2013,” he said.
“I have made repeated calls for CCTV cameras in the Drysdale business precinct, where a community neighbourhood watch has documented more than 15 assaults since the Andrews government rose to power.
“Despite a Labor election promise to open the Drysdale, Queenscliff and Ocean Grove police stations 16 hours a day, they are still only manned for seven hours and Queenscliff is closed three days a week.
“There is just one squad car to cover these areas, which makes police presence almost non-existent on the streets, according to the local neighbourhood watch group.”
A spokesperson for acting police minister Robin Scott said the state government had funded almost 700 extra police personnel and delivered a record $2.5 billion in funding to Victoria Police.
“(This) is more than the previous Coalition ever did,” she said.
“While the Chief Commissioner directs the specific allocation of police resources based on operational requirements, we will continue to work closely with Victoria Police to ensure they have the resources they need.”
