LOCAL COMMUNITY RALLIES AGAINST HASTINGS and LANGWARRIN POLICE STATION DOWNGRADES
14-May-2009
I applaud the local community for the show of support for its local Police Officers, after we discovered that the State Government has downgraded the Hastings Police Station.
Residents of Hastings, Somerville, Bittern, Tyabb, Balnarring, Crib Point, Langwarrin and Baxter came together with traders and business owners, at the Hastings Foreshore on May 14, to rally against the Brumby Government’s decision to reduce the 24 hour station to a 16 hour operation; meaning the station will be closed overnight between the hours of 11pm and 7am.
This will mean that late at night when most crimes occur, there will often not be any Police Officers at all on this side of the Peninsula and the Station will sit empty and in darkness.
The state government’s decision will only amplify the very serious concerns that already exist about community safety, because of the critically low numbers of police officers at the Hastings Station.
During the rally I pointed out that over the last 7 years, Police patrol hours in our area have been reduced by 9,576 hours per year, which equates to a cut of 18%. Over the same period, violent crime in our community has skyrocketed by a shocking 46.8%.
Other speakers at the rally included Greg Davies-President of the Police Association; David Nelli, President of the Western Port Chamber of Commerce and Jeff Kremer, President of the Somerville, Tyabb and Districts Ratepayers Association.
Mr Davies stated that he believed the Brumby Government should be ashamed of what it has done to Victoria’s Police Service; pointing out that Victoria now spends less per capita on Police than any other state and has fewer Police per capita than any other state.
It was also good to see Liberal Member for Eastern Victorian Region, Edward O’Donohue there to support our local Police Officers.
I invited Premier, John Brumby and Police Minister, Bob Cameron to attend the rally twice; once through a speech in Parliament, and then by written invitations. Neither showed up.
It was confirmed by the few Police Officers that attended the rally that the State Government and Police Command had ordered police not to attend.
District Inspector of Police Gordon Charteris and former Hastings Police Officer Adam Carrigg were both in attendance. After a 32 year decorated career with Victoria Police, District Inspector Charteris, is on stress leave after being bullied out of his position for having had the courage to speak out about not having enough Police Officers to protect the public.
Mr Carrigg left the service after more than 20 years of unblemished service, due to concerns he has with the destructive culture being created within Victoria Police over recent years.
Many of the officers who serve our community so bravely wanted to join us in the rally; I think it is disgraceful that they were ordered not to attend.
It is clear from the reaction at the rally that the community is angry about their station being downgraded and the increased levels of danger that will result for both our local officers and our community.
The rally was followed by a march up the main street of Hastings to the Police Station where several resolutions conveying the community’s absolute support for its local police officers and calling for the retention of the stations 24 hour status, were presented for State Government consideration.
During the march, the numbers of protesters swelled enormously by people along the street joining in.
Many people also signed a petition that I will table in state parliament. The petition opposes the overnight closure of the Hastings Police Station.
Copies of the petition can be obtained from my office at 6 Eramosa Road East in Somerville or by phoning 5977 5600.
It is very important that we continue to send the strong message, that this community will not allow the Brumby Government to treat our local police or our people with such contempt. This is an issue that we will fight all the way.