Mond

Thursday, 29 June 2006

NATIONALS SEEK SMALL TOWN POLICE GUARANTEE

The Nationals are seeking a guarantee from the State Government that small town police stations won’t be shut down as part of a current review of country policing.

The Nationals Police and Emergency Services Spokesman, Bill Sykes, is concerned that one-man police stations are being phased out by stealth.

“There appears to be a policy developing where the police are not replacing officers from one-man stations when they are transferred or retire,” Dr Sykes said.

“I am continuing to hear reports of small town stations being serviced from major regional centres which are often more than 40 kilometres away. We are finding that when an officer goes on extended leave, the town is being serviced by visiting officers and it appears to be the thin edge of the wedge.

“It’s not good enough and residents in small country towns have every right to expect the benefits of a full-time police presence.”

Dr Sykes said the presence of a police officer, permanently stationed in a town and living in the residence provided by the taxpayers was fundamental to safety in country towns.

“It’s not just a law and order issue, although I would argue that a full-time police officer living in a country town certainly helps to prevent crime,” Dr Sykes said.

“It also allows for positive relationships to be formed between Victoria Police and the community as the local copper becomes a part of town life.

“The Nationals are strongly supportive of continued police presence in small country towns and you can’t achieve the same results by treating those towns as outposts to be serviced from a major regional centre.

“The Nationals are calling on the Premier and the Minister for Police to guarantee that no country police stations are going to be closed or downgraded under this current review.”

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989