More police to CARE

By Kelly Yates
POLICE from the new Melbourne based Operational Response Unit will be stepping in to help Casey traffic police run Operation CARE (Casey Area Road Enforcement) this year.
Senior Constable Allen Inderwisch from the Casey Traffic Management Unit (TMU) said police would be working with the new Operational Response Unit members, with the aim of having a greater impact throughout the municipality.
The highly visible roadblock-style operation will start in May and run every month until the end of the year, with police focusing on traffic and crime related offences.
Operation CARE is the first police operation of its kind in Casey and involves police from the Casey TMU, Casey Response Unit, Casey Criminal Investigation Unit, general duties officers from Narre Warren, Endeavour Hills and Cranbourne police stations and sheriff’s department officers.
Sen Const Inderwischsaid the operation was back for 2010 because of its “success” last year.
“Some of the highlights from last year’s Operation CARE included police discovering a hydroponic set-up at a house after finding cannabis in a car at one of the roadblocks,” he said.
“The sheriffs also recovered nearly $500,000 worth of fines.”
Sen Const Inderwisch said about one in every six vehicles intercepted resulted in action against either the vehicle or the driver.
“This is an extremelyhigh strike rate. These arescary statistics,” he said.
Police are targeting drivers attempting to traffic drugs, stolen good and weapons through Casey as part of the upcoming operation and will also be on the hunt for unlicensed drivers, drink drivers, motorists not wearing seatbelts and those driving unroadworthy vehicles.
“People need to realise it’s not a breath testing site, we will be searching vehicles,” he said.
“And there’s a high chance if you have drugs, weapons or stolen goods, you will get caught.”