Media Release

Patrol van sits idle in drive for more police

VICTORIA'S police union says Mooroolbark is experiencing a chronic shortage of police with the station's patrol van regularly off the road.

Information obtained by the Police Association Victoria showed that on the two-week roster ending Saturday, April 10, the patrol van was sidelined for seven shifts due to staff shortages and sickness.

The union told the Leader morale was low and members were leaving because they felt Mooroolbark police station presented no opportunities.

Assistant secretary Inspector Bruce McKenzie said the staffing situation and health and welfare of members at Mooroolbark were of particular concern.

``Our members are tired and run-down,'' he said. ``The concept of foot patrols is a thing of the past at Mooroolbark and our members there can only react to calls from the public.''

Yarra Ranges Police Service area manager Inspector Richard Brown said he personally checked the Mooroolbark roster for the fortnight ending April 10 and it showed a 24-hour police response had been rostered for the Mooroolbark area over that period.

He said where rostered resources had become unavailable due to factors like illness, other police units provided a response.

Insp Brown said Mooroolbark and Mt Evelyn police stations did at times share

mobile patrols and resources but this was not a sign of under-staffing

``The citizens of Mooroolbark are not being left defenceless and a police service is certainly being maintained in the area,'' he said.

Insp Brown said some people at the station had moved on to pursue their careers and different roles but this was normal. He said a new reception and administrative assistant would start this month.

Last week, the State Government announced it would put 1700 police on the streets over the next five years and redeploy 200 police from desk jobs back to the frontline.

Kilsyth state Liberal MP David Hodgett said: ``The under-resourcing at our local police stations is an issue that has existed for years, and my main concern is ensuring we get extra police out here on the beat as soon as possible, to ensure the proper support of our local officers in protecting our community.''

He said he had for years been demanding action on this.