By Kerri-Anne Mesner
STAFF shortages at Brimbank police stations do not seem to have eased despite the State Government’s announcement of a record police budget last week.
Police Minister Bob Cameron said Victoria Police’s $1.75 billion budget would ensure there would be more police on the streets than ever before.
“This record $1.75 billion Victoria Police budget continues the delivery of 350 additional police, which builds on the 1400 extra police our government has added to police ranks since 1999,” Mr Cameron said.
Along with the record police budget, the State Government announced a $657 million community protection and crime-fighting package – including new high-tech major crime and counter-terrorism technology and increased forensic capability.
While welcoming the various public safety initiatives, the Police Association was disappointed with the budget announcement, according to its assistant secretary, Inspector Bruce McKenzie.
“The urgent issue of putting more police on the beat failed to rate a mention,” he said.
“The critical lack of front line police resources has not only been ignored in this budget, but so too has the government’s pre-election commitment that it would fund a full and proper audit of police numbers.
“A recent audit of police resources conducted by the Police Association on 12 March revealed that Brimbank is one of the worst affected areas in the state.
“Keilor Downs and Sunshine police stations’ operational resources are down by 44 per cent and 30 per cent respectively,” Insp McKenzie said.
“There are only 130 available operational police in Brimbank – an alarming 46 positions less than there should be.
“It is disappointing that the government has failed to specifically address the chronic lack of police resources in the budget, especially in critical areas such as Brimbank.”
Sergeant Rod Stein of the Brimbank Traffic Management Unit, which is based at Melton Police Station, told Star in April that the Brimbank unit was made up of one sergeant (himself) and 12 officers.
He said the unit had not been at full strength since the middle of last year and he hoped it would be at full strength again by the middle of this year.
Sgt Stein said the deficiency was due to vacancies and officers being called away to other units.
