DRYSDALE residents are calling on action from Bellarine MP Lisa Neville, claiming she has forgotten them.<\/p>\n
Following an increase in reports of crime, locals are now demanding a permanent police presence in the small town.<\/p>\n
In 2014, Ms Neville led protests against the slashing of hours at the Drysdale Police Station, which resulted in the station being closed five days a week.<\/p>\n
At the time, residents were concerned that the new hours would see them left behind with the nearest full-time station located in Ocean Grove.<\/p>\n
Ms Neville has been the Minister for Police and Emergency Services since 2016, but residents now say she has forgotten about them.<\/p>\n
“She was not Minister for Police at that time, but she is now,” Drysdale local Richard Robert said.<\/p>\n
“If she was concerned then, now she has the opportunity to do something about it.”<\/p>\n
Mr Robert said without full-time police presence, hoons had begun to feel confident.<\/p>\n
“The increase in crime reported on the Drysdale and Clifton Springs Community Page (on Facebook) along with the hoons driving dangerously worries a great number of residents.”<\/p>\n
Since the slashing of staffed hours at the station, data from ‘id community’ shows an increase in the population from about 4,200 to almost 5,000 people.<\/p>\n
Over the past year, the Crime Statistics Agency figures reveal a increase in crime from 173 to 227 incidents in the growing area.<\/p>\n
Despite this, Ms Neville says she fully supports the work of local police who have proactively increased their presence on local streets, including Drysdale.<\/p>\n
“In addition to the recent allocations to police in the Geelong region, an extra nine officers have recently been assigned to the north Bellarine.<\/p>\n
“This will ensure extra patrols in Drysdale, Portarlington, St Leonards and Indented Head.”<\/p>\n
She said more was already being done to combat crime along the Bellarine, particularly coming into the summer period with extra permanent police being allocated.<\/p>\n
“The model is designed to reduce crime and ensure a greater police presence in our local communities.<\/p>\n
“This was trialled last summer and the success in crime rate reduction and the local road toll, together with the positive community feedback, has seen a commitment to making this model permanent.”<\/p>\n
Advice from Victoria Police states that requiring officers to staff stations reduces their ability to conduct community-based policing or respond to incidents.<\/p>\n
Drysdale Station will remain open on Tuesdays for community access.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DRYSDALE residents are calling on action from Bellarine MP Lisa Neville, claiming she has forgotten them. Following an increase in reports of crime, locals are now demanding a permanent police presence in the small town. In 2014, Ms Neville led protests against the slashing of hours at the Drysdale Police Station, which resulted in the […]<\/p>\n