Hastings stabbing highlights law and order neglect
11-July-2009
State Member for Hastings, Neale Burgess, has condemned a recent spate of violent crime in Hastings as further evidence of escalating law and order concerns.
A 28 year old man died yesterday after being taken to The Alfred hospital, following a violent stabbing attack.
Police were called to Mullet Street at around 1.30am following a call to triple zero.
Three men were arrested and taken to Hastings Police Station to assist with enquiries.
This attack follows the vicious assault of a 41 year old man in a Hastings supermarket car park on 27 June, who later died.
The incident occurred in the midst of state government plans to downgrade the Hastings Police Station from a 24 hour to a 16 hour per day service. The reduced hours will mean the station will be closed from 11pm to 7am.
A leaked email also recently revealed that police officers that would have been on night shift at Hastings were to be used in the city.
“The Hastings Police Station has long suffered from understaffing, and this latest incident only further highlights the pivotal role this station plays in protecting our community.” said Mr Burgess.
“What would the impact have been on the police response if the Hastings Police Station had been closed overnight?” asked Mr Burgess
“These disturbing incidents only amplify community concern about crime in the Hastings area” said Mr Burgess.
“It is apparent that we have some serious issues regarding law and order in this area. At a critical time, when we need more police and more resources, the State Government’s only response has been to propose the night time closure of the Hastings Police Station” said Mr Burgess.
These attacks come at the same time as increasing reports of assaults and general lawlessness throughout the community, including a disturbing incident in which an older gentleman was verbally assaulted and threatened by a group of youths in a Hastings supermarket car park three weeks ago.
The witness who later reported the incident to Hastings Police was told to call triple zero instead.
This is reflective of a disturbing trend in our local area.
The state government has slashed frontline policing throughout the Mornington Peninsula by 20% and over the same period violent crime has skyrocketed by 46.8%.