By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM may soon have two police stations open 24 hours a day with the announcement that the municipality will receive the lion’s share of new police officers.
Last week it was announced that Wyndham, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong would receive 13 new police between them and that it would be up to the Divisional Superintendent to decide how they would be divided up.
Acting Superintendent Ian Geddes told Star Wyndham would receive the majority of nine officers, with seven of them expected to be placed at the Wyndham North Police Station.
“Seven of those allocated to Wyndham will be at Wyndham North as part of that move to try and increase the numbers of police at Wyndham North to improve the service delivery there,”Acting Supt Geddes said.
“(In Wyndham) we’ve just put a new police station there… so it’s our intention to build the capacity of that police station to ensure that we have a 24/7 service eventually being delivered from it.”
Mayor Kim McAliney said the announcement was a major coup for Wyndham.
“It’s absolutely fantastic. It means our advocacy program is obviously working and police command are recognising that Wyndham is an area of need,” Cr McAliney said.
“I think it was important that Wyndham did get the biggest share of these new officers. It’s a great outcome that shows that the Wyndham community is being heard.”
Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong will receive two officers each.
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Strategy and Organisational Development Lucinda Nolan said areas like Wyndham received more police than others because of the booming population.
“When we allocate our police numbers, we look at population size in growing areas and large regional areas, current crime levels and emerging crime trends. We factor in which areas are facing high operational demand and what the community concerns are,” she said.
The new police officers are expected to begin work over the next few months.
