By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM’S police are spending up to several hours a day transferring offenders to Sunshine or Geelong due to the inadequacy of the out-dated Werribee Magistrates Court.
A Werribee based solicitor, who could not reveal his name for professional reasons, told Star that the Magistrates Court was an accident waiting to happen.
“There is only one Magistrate hearing criminal matters per day, so when you compare that to Sunshine where there is six Magistrates every day, it’s absolutely ridiculous,” the solicitor said.
“There are no break-out rooms so during a hearing the perpetrators and the victims all need to be together in a very small space.
“It’s a country-styled court. I’m surprised there are not more incidents of violence.”
Wyndham Police Inspector Damien Christensen told Star that potentially dangerous people could also not be held at the Werribee police station.
“We’re averaging 210 people a month or 38 people a day in attendance at the police station. Those that get remanded need to be transferred to Sunshine or Geelong because we don’t have the facilities to hold them here,” Insp Christensen said.
“If you think about it, if we pick someone up at 11pm, we need to interview them, transfer them, do the paperwork and then drive back, that can be a one-and-a-half or two hour process.
“It’s not ideal.”
Inspector Christensen said modern court houses also had a custody centre attached to them, something Werribee is missing.
He also confirmed that a police officer had been assaulted just over one month ago at the Werribee Magistrate’s Court.
Inspector Chirstensen said he was aware that the State Government and the Growth Areas Authority were looking at the possibility of creating a justice precinct in the new East Werribee development.
“I don’t think we should be talking short term in the fastest growing area in Victoria,” he said.
“We’re a very busy (police service area) and I think we do a very good job at keeping the crime down.
“It’s not just about keeping up with the growth, we need to have the capabilities to provide proper services.
“If decisions about future growth and a possible justice precinct are being made then I think Victoria Police would need to be involved with them because we are directly affected and there are a lot of inherent issues around safety.”
Police and Emergency Services Minister Kim Wells said he was well aware of the need for an update of Wyndham’s justice services.
“I was at the Sunshine police station today and I have been told that the Werribee Magistrates Court is so out of date that they can’t hold prisoners there,” Mr Wells said.
“We have police saying that to me and we are hearing it from the Wyndham Council as well so it’s an important issue that we need to get up to speed on.”
