By Cimara Pearce
BRIMBANK residents have vowed to continue their fight for more police numbers and better resources to prevent Sunshine from being turned into a “ghetto of the future”.
Hundreds of residents swamped Sunshine train station, the hub for the suburb’s violence, on Friday night, united in their call for help.
Residents of every demographic donned placards and pleaded for government assistance to reduce crime in Sunshine.
Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association (SunRRA) member Sean Spencer said residents were sick of dealing with “institutionalised neglect” from local, state and federal governments.
“We have greater needs and fewer services. We have a growing population and decreasing police,” Mr Spencer said.
“We have greater needs and poorer infrastructure. We have greater needs and fewer facilities. We have poorer health and the worst health care resources in Melbourne. We have more youth and virtually no youth recreation facilities and opportunities.
“Our train station is a no-go zone. The best advice is don’t go there.”
SunRRA president Darlene Reilly agreed and said she was sick of being afraid in her own community.
Among the hundreds of concerned residents at the rally was local trader Abdullah Rubel.
Working until 9pm nightly at his Hampshire Rd store, Mr Rubel sees the brutality first hand.
He said he had received death threats from gangs and kept a stick behind his shop counter to use for self-defence.
Mr Rubel said his friend had been attacked recently out the front of his store but had to wait for three hours for police assistance.
“Three hours – someone could have died. It’s scary.”
Mr Rubel said he witnessed vicious attacks from his shop front “once a week, at least” but he said less people were reporting attacks because of the lack of resources.
“Why take the hassle to go and report it. The police don’t come and nothing gets done if you do report it so what’s the point?”, he said.
Scores of politicians were invited to attend the rally including Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron, Energy and Resources and Community Development Minister Peter Batchelor, Premier John Brumby, Derrimut MP Telmo Languiller, Keilor MP George Seitz, Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten, Kororoit MP Marlene Kairouz and Planning Minister Justin Madden.
Of those invited the only one to attend was Mr Seitz, who arrived as the rally was ending.
An emotionally charged crowd pleaded for answers from Mr Seitz and called him to the microphone, but his speech left community members scathing.
Mr Seitz agreed that police numbers were low in and around Sunshine but asked residents to urge their sons and daughters to join the police force as a solution.
“The government’s job is to continue recruiting police and that is what we are doing,” he said. “I encourage your sons and daughters to join the police force, support me in that.”
Star tried contacting Mr Cameron’s office several times last week for comment but phone calls and emails were not returned.
Mr Spencer thanked local police officers at the rally and said he believed they were doing the best they could while “undermanned and doing the hardest job”.
