Coalition pledges mobile CCTV vans

THE state Coalition is continuing to push its law-and-order message ahead of this year’s election, pledging $3.6 million for Victoria Police to set up a mobile CCTV surveillance unit.

Making the announcement last Wednesday, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said a Coalition government would work with the Chief Commissioner to create the unit, which would especially be useful at events throughout the state with large numbers of people.

The project will include the purchase and operating costs of four self-contained mobile surveillance vans fitted with the latest CCTV cameras, communications and audio surveillance technology to monitor locations such as popular sporting, community and cultural events or protest rallies where violence was a possibility.

The four vans will be operated by a team of about 10 specialist police.

“A Liberal Nationals government will make Victoria safe,” Mr Guy said.

“I am going to put more police on the beat with more resources, introduce tough mandatory minimum sentences and put an end to dangerous and violent criminals getting easy bail and parole.

“At the next election, Victorians will have a choice between my policies to get tough on violent criminals or more of the same from (Premier) Daniel Andrews.”

Shadow Police Minister Edward O’Donohue said the Coalition had announced a series of policies to fund more police and give them greater resources such as mobile surveillance units.

“Victorians deserve to feel safe and they deserve a government that will introduce the policies needed to stop Labor’s crime tsunami.”

According to the latest Victorian figures from the Crime Statistics agency, crime is up in Geelong and Queenscliffe but down in the Surf Coast.