By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Extra police have been assigned to Geelong after a protest rally over staff shortages.
The reinforcements come as latest crime statistics show soaring rates of drug offences in the region.
Police Association secretary Ron Iddles said Commissioner Ken Lay committed five more officers to Geelong after the rally of off-duty police in Johnstone Park last week.
Mr Iddles told the rally was “short-changed by wafer-thin frontline police numbers … when they need all the support they can get”.
The new crime figures showed drug offences increased almost 40 per cent on the Surf Coast and nearly 23 per cent in Geelong in the past year.
Surf Coast recorded 117 drug offences, up from 84, and Geelong had 613, up from 499.
Total crime rose 4.6 per cent in the Geelong region and 5.6 per cent on the Surf Coast.
Geelong recorded a 32.5 per cent drop in robberies and a 14 per cent decrease in residential burglaries.
Surf Coast thefts from cars fell almost 19 per cent after a police campaign reminding drivers to remove valuables and lock their vehicles.
However, thefts of cars jumped more than 19 per cent on Surf Coast.
Geelong Inspector Gary Thompson said the latest quarterly crime figures showed crime against the person increasing again despite slowing over the past 12 months.
“Family violence assaults and (other) assaults will continue to be targeted. General assaults continue throughout various suburbs and police continue to work with our stakeholders to reduce harm in these areas.
“Drug offences are on the rise and this displays the good work provided by the Divisional Response Unit, High Volume Crime Team and Criminal Investigation Units.
“These units continue to be extremely active and significant arrests continue to be made. These units will continue to tackle serious crime groups and illicit drug activity.”
Surf Coast Inspector Gary Steel said drugs and family violence were behind most of the increase.
“Family violence is a continuing problem and contributes not just to our total assault statistics but other crimes like criminal damage.”
