My question is for the Minister for Police. How are police keeping the Glen Waverley community safe?
Last month I visited the Glen Waverley police station on Ferntree Gully Road, where I met with Acting Inspector Ronelle Quin, the Monash police service area’s local area commander, as well as other officers who work across our community. The officers at Glen Waverley police station are doing an excellent job serving our community, which I am sure is something that the Glen Waverley and Wheelers Hill residents appreciate.
I also recently visited the Forest Hill police station on Springvale Road to meet with Inspector Lisa Gilham, the Whitehorse local area commander, and hear about the great work that the police at Forest Hill do to serve our communities of Blackburn South, Burwood East, Forest Hill, Vermont and Vermont South in my electorate, as well as the broader Whitehorse area. I also got to talk to Superintendent Matthew Baynes, who oversees the eastern region division 1, which covers the local government areas of Whitehorse, Monash, Boroondara and Manningham. I would like to thank all the dedicated, selfless and professional police, all of whom are trained up at the police academy in Glen Waverley, and thank them for looking after our community 24/7.
Minister’s Response:
The Allan Labor Government is committed to giving Victoria Police the resources it needs to keep our growing community safe. In the 2022-23 Budget, the government announced a $600 million funding boost which includes $342 million for an additional 502 police officers and 50 Protective Service Officers, all of whom have been recruited ahead of schedule.
The recruitment of additional sworn members and PSOs will support Victoria Police to allocate more resources to areas of need. It builds upon funding provided in 2017 and 2016, which resulted in the recruitment, training and deployment of an additional 3,135 front line police, all of whom have been on the beat since April 2022. Since 2016, the Forest Hill Division has received 172 additional police, including 13 family violence specialist officers.
Local police in Glen Waverley continue to analyse crime trends and community demand for police attendance to assess where best to deploy proactive police patrols. Locations with high foot traffic, such as shopping centres and railway station precincts, have regular targeted patrols to deter offending and reassure the community.
I also understand local police regularly engage with their counterparts in other police divisions to share valuable information and intelligence, in addition to supporting Operation Trinity – a cross border nightshift operation to reduce aggravated burglaries. Glen Waverley police have also established a Local Safety Committee with other community safety partners which involves regular meetings with key stakeholders to discuss local issues and how best to tackle them.
Under the Neighbourhood Policing Model, local police respond to safety concerns raised by members of the public, ranging from illegal turns on roads through to graffiti or anti-social behaviour. Local police are also utilising various social media platforms to put important messages out to the community. This includes a community safety piece in the Monash Council Newsletter and the local Eyewatch Facebook page.
As you are aware, the Glen Waverley electorate is a vibrant multicultural community – which is why Glen Waverley police are supported by a Multicultural Liaison Officer who can assist community groups to resolve their safety concerns.
Hon Anthony Carbines MP
Minister for Police
Minister for Crime Prevention
Minister for Racing
