Torquay Police Station extends opening hours

OPENING hours at the Torquay Police Station have been extended, following considerable public demand.

Announced earlier this month, the station on the corner of Surf Coast Highway and Central Avenue is now open to the public from 9am to 5pm seven days a week.

The ongoing 24-hour police response and patrols from the station are continuing.

“We’re committed to delivering a police service that is in line with community needs and expectations,” Acting Senior Sergeant Dean Parrello said.

“The increased opening hours at Torquay will allow members of the public to attend to report crime and have their concerns addressed in person.”

He said increasing the opening hours at the station had been in the works for a little while and had been done by re organising the existing roster of staff.

“Hopefully, when people want to come in, the doors will be open and they’ll be met with a smiling face.”

There have been frequent calls – including from local politicians – to have the Torquay station open to the public 24 hours a day.

Ahead of the 2018 state election, Shadow Minister for Police Edward O’Donohue and then- South Barwon Liberal MP Andrew Katos pledged to work with Victoria Police to make the Torquay station a 24-hour station if their party formed government.

Victoria Police have resisted doing so for some time, with Senior Sergeant Anthony Walker saying in 2017 that when the station was open for counter service, “95 per cent of the people coming in want us to sign documents”.