Crime concerns voiced

RESIDENTS have attended community safety forums across the region to voice their concerns about the surge in local crime, with many people feeling vulnerable and demanding greater police presence in their towns. Hosted by Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, the forums held in Broadford, Benalla, Euroa, and Locksley on June 12 allowed community members to speak about their experiences with the escalating issues of thefts, farm crimes, assaults, and family violence. “I understand that several people in our region, whether it be in town or on farms, have been feeling more vulnerable to crime than usual in recent times and I’m so glad they were able to share their stories with us,” Ms Cleeland said. “Hearing about the incredible efforts of households, farmers, and businesses and what they are doing to keep safe was inspiring, whether it be reinvigorating their Neighbourhood Watch programs or increasing their property surveillance.” In the Strathbogie Shire, criminal incidents are up 9.6 per cent with 56.6 per cent of cases remaining unsolved – up from 41.3 per cent at the same time last year. At the forums Ms Cleeland was joined by Shadow Minister for Police, Brad Battin. Mr Battin, a former police officer himself, said resourcing wasn’t the issue. “We have more police officers per capita in Victoria that any other state in Australia,” said Mr Battin. “Resourcing isn’t the issue; it’s the allocation of those resources that's the problem. “The larger the increase in crime, the more people feel they can commit crime, and reoffending begins to occur once an area is identified as vulnerable. “Small town or ‘one-man’ stations are important and reducing their resources detracts community confidence.” Mr Battin also explained that ongoing protests in Melbourne for the better part of this year has pulled resources away from smaller towns, with the effect of officers attending the CBD from larger hubs such as Seymour trickling down to smaller towns like Euroa. Ms Cleeland spoke on the issue. “This lack of support locally threatens to leave rural communities without a policing presence and sends a signal that the safety and protection of our rural communities doesn’t matter,” she said. “Many of these small country towns are too far away from a major centre for police to respond to an emergency situation within a reasonable timeframe.” At the forum in Euroa, residents spoke of their experiences, with many venting frustrations about police not wanting or being unable to attend to their reports, so much so that in some cases they’re not even reporting incidents. Once person described police’s hampered ability (or reluctance) to attend their residence after reporting a bullet had been shot through their car windscreen. Another praised the response they got from police, who attended their property from a larger hub station within forty minutes after they also made a shooting-related report. A Euroa businessperson described a break-in and theft they’d experienced, with the local police unable to attend due to renovations at the station rendering them immobile until the following day. Crime prevention was also discussed, in particular ‘environmental design’, which aims to detract potential criminals by discouraging their presence or making them feel watched. Rob Jamieson, president of the Ruffy Neighbourhood Watch, said their group was practising such measures to deter criminals, and he emphasised the value of dashcams in being able to “piece the puzzle together” in many instances. Criminal incidents in the past 12 months have seen an increase across most of the region, with the percentage of those being unresolved rising too. Within Benalla, criminal incidents have risen by 11.2 per cent while unsolved cases are up to nearly 39 per cent as opposed to 31 per cent last year. In the Mitchell Shire, there has been an 11.6 per cent rise in criminal incidents, with 39.2 per cent of cases being unsolved – up from 30 per cent last year. Ms Cleeland thanked everyone who attended the community safety forums across the electorate. “I look forward to there being increase in police resources in our towns in the near future, so that everyone feels safe in their home, farm, and business,” she said.