Constable Wayne Kiezy, left, Leading Senior Constable Craig Kelso, Constable Sarah Gleeson, Constable Brian McGuinness, Constable Brenton Whitsom and Senior Constable Julie Desira are gearing up for Operation Roller which will swamp Melbourne’s North-West from next month. 68799 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By Belinda Nolan
HUNDREDS of extra police will swarm through the North-West as part of the biggest police operation the region has ever seen.
Star can confirm that planning is currently underway for Operation Roller, a massive three-month blitz to crack down on crime in the Brimbank, Melton, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham, Hume and Moreland council areas.
Hundreds of extra police from the Operational Response Unit, along with local officers, will saturate the region for three months, as part of a concentrated effort to stamp out violent crimes, including robbery, burglary and organised crime.
The operation will also include the use of the Victoria Police Air Wing, Dog Squad, Mounted Branch and Water Police.
The operation will kick off in October and will run until the end of December.
Brimbank Superintendent Graham Kent told Star the community could expect to see a huge increase in police presence on the streets.
Supt Kent said the operation had only just been confirmed, but planning was already well-advanced.
“It’s a big operation for us, and an exciting opportunity for the three divisions in the North-West metro area, which at the moment are grappling with some fairly significant increases in demand for policing services,” Supt Kent said.
Supt Kent said the municipalities had been chosen due to high levels of crime and booming populations, which were driving demand.
“Each of the three divisions are regarded as areas of high demand for police services, with relatively high levels of offending of various types.
“We know that we have an underlying drug abuse and drug trade problem, a large youth population, alcohol and gambling issues and we have all these things at relatively high levels.
“That’s not new, it’s been a constant in the West for a long time.”
Supt Kent said police would come down hard on organised crime, gang and hoon activity during the blitz.
“It will be the biggest of its kind in terms of covering such a large area and for such a long period of time,” he said.
