By Cam Lucadou-Wells
CASEY’S flag has been raised back to full-mast after 20 extra trained police were announced for the municipality.
Casey’s police district inspector Don Brown confirmed the fully-trained recruits would be posted to frontline duties – such as watch-house and divisional van patrols – in Narre Warren, Cranbourne and Endeavour Hills from 14 November.
“They will be dedicated to frontline tactical response. They will not be tied up with any other taskforce or any other units.”
Further recruits are expected in Casey in April as part of a statewide rollout of extra 300 officers and a new police resourcing model.
“I’m told Casey will be getting some of those resources.”
Inspector Brown said the boosted police numbers would target the numerous thefts of vehicles, thefts from vehicles and aggravated burglaries.
“We will reduce the high-harm offending such as aggravated burglaries and robberies.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Inspector Brown said he couldn’t answer whether the trialled closure of Endeavour Hills police station on weekend nights would still go ahead.
“The closure hasn’t yet started and we don’t know how many police we’re getting (in April).”
Recent official crime stats show nearly 50 burglaries, 40 assaults and 150 thefts a week in Casey.
The crime rate rose by 14.5 per cent on a per capita basis in the 12 months up to June 2016.
At a council meeting on 4 October, Casey mayor Sam Aziz successfully reversed his earlier proposal for council’s flag to fly at half-mast as part of a law-and-order campaign.
He told Star News his original half-mast notion was “outside the square” but necessary to highlight that “we were a city in distress”.
“We are now a city of appreciation that we’re getting the resources that police need to make our community safer.”
In a triumphant Facebook post, which ended with the catchcry “Cop that! It worked!”, Cr Aziz wrote:
“For all the arm chair commentators who accused me of being political and criticised me for lowering the Casey flag to half-mast to symbolise a community in distress until we get more police, pardon the pun but: Cop that! It worked!”
Cr Aziz said he would continue to press for tougher sentencing, deportation of dual-national offenders and a state-federal joint taskforce to tackle youth gangs.
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan said extra police had been funded as part of a $596 million public safety package in the May budget.
“Let’s be very clear- Cr Sam Aziz and the Casey Council do not dictate the government’s policies on policing matters nor any other state matter.
“Perhaps, councillors should’ve focused more on local government issues if they are concerned about their prospects of re-election.
“We face a number of complex law and order challenges – including the scourge of family violence, the need to crack down on gangs and gun crime – which is why this government continues to give Victoria Police the people, technology and infrastructure they need to keep our community safe.”
Police Minister Lisa Neville said police made the resourcing decision as acknowledgment of “growing pressures” in the Casey growth corridor.
