It’s prime crime time

RUSSELL BENNETT
ENDEAVOUR Hills residents fear a night-time police-free window is opening their community up to criminal behaviour.
Their wait for a 24-hour police station is set to continue, with Victoria Police announcing the Endeavour Hills station will not have a reception counter service between 11pm and 7am.
But station Senior Sergeant Paul Marshall said a divisional van still operated in the area 24-7 and the “police management decision” was based on service delivery.
“We can keep the station open 24 hours (instead of the current 16) but those hours are better spent during the day,” he said.
“Opening for 24 hours would have more of a negative impact – it would take resources away from where there’s a higher demand elsewere in the PSA.”
Snr Sgt Marshall said: “The community needs us out there.
“To have two officers at the office on night shift would not be servicing local needs.
“If people need to visit a police station past 11pm, Dandenong and Narre Warren are available.”
Casey councillor Shar Balmes said some individuals were coming to the area to participate in unlawful activity at night because they thought they could get away with it.
She said she had received calls from worried residents who were unable to call local police at night to report the behaviour.
“The highest percentage of calls are on hooning – terror in the middle of the night on streets and neighbourhood road reserves.”
Casey councillors passed a motion from Cr Balmes at Tuesday night’s meeting to write to Police Minister Peter Ryan, asking if the station’s hours would increase.
Cr Balmes said Endeavour Hills and its surrounding community was promised a 24-hour station by the Bracks Government in 1999, and again in 2005.
“When this government was in opposition, it was echoing the community’s concerns,” she said.
Cr Balmes estimated the Endeavour Hills station covered upwards of 40,000 local residents in Endeavour Hills, Doveton, Eumemmerring, Hallam and Lysterfield South.
In a statement to the News, Mr Ryan said: “The allocation of police resources is an operational decision made by the Chief Commissioner of Police.
“Police resources are deployed taking into account specific operational needs and priorities.
”The government’s investment in additional frontline police is allowing Victoria Police to allocate new officers to areas across Victoria, including metropolitan areas of Melbourne.”
Residents can call triple zero 24 hours a day to report suspect behaviour or criminal activity.