Monday, 3 September 2007

BENALLA CRIME STATS ENCOURAGING

The generally favourable crime statistics in the Benalla Electorate are a credit to the local police and the many members of the community involved in groups such as Neighbourhood Watch and Crime Stoppers according to Nationals MP, Bill Sykes.

Dr Sykes said, “I and the community are pleased with an increase in visible police presence on the beat. It remains critical that staffing levels be maintained in country police stations to ensure that police are out in the community where their presence helps prevent crime as well as improving their networks to enable more success in solving criminal cases.

“The Neighbourhood Watch program is particularly well appreciated in smaller communities where the ongoing liaison between police and motivated community members ensures that there are many sets of eyes and ears alert to unusual behaviour.

“The Neighbourhood Watch groups often have well organised telephone trees which work well in emergencies such as the recent bushfires.”

Dr Sykes continued, “Increases in reported rapes are of concern although it remains unclear as to whether there is an increase in actual rape cases or an increase in the reporting of rape cases.

“Either way, more most be done to reduce the incidence of rape and serious sexual assault and to that end, I commend the recent Education Department initiatives in relation to addressing sexual assault problems in schools.

“Interestingly, one of the key features of the Education Department’s approach is more police presence in schools. This comes less than 18 months after the Government dismantled the highly successful Police in Schools Program which lead to a substantial reduction of police presence in schools!”

Dr Sykes concluded, “Community safety is a shared responsibility – starting with parents providing good role models and appropriate guardianship of their children. And of course individuals must take responsibility for their own actions, not engage in criminal or reckless behaviour or place themselves in high risk situations.

“The broader community are also vitally involved as per the adage, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’.

“Finally, the police should be there to support the efforts of individuals, their families and the communities. It’s a pity that so often we expect police to bear the brunt of law enforcement.”

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