Police numbers

By Glen Atwell
POLICE numbers in Cranbourne are dwindling at dangerously low levels after a recent roster change robbed the station of one in four officers, according to the Police Association.
The association also blamed unfilled positions and secondments for the 26 per cent reduction in operational manpower at the 24-hour Sladen Street facility.
Casey Acting Inspector Bruce Kitchen acknowledged the station had a shortage of officers, but said the Cranbourne Police Station was “ticking along well”.
A number of Cranbourne officers met with union representatives on Monday at the Dandenong station, to discuss a range of issues, including a lack of resources and a diminished front line emergency response.
On Tuesday, Cranbourne members joined colleagues from Narre Warren and Dandenong and attended the Police Association rally at Rod Laver Arena.
The 2000-strong crowd unanimously backed the call for Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon and Police Minister Bob Cameron to resign or face industrial action.
Police Association legal manager Sen Sgt Greg Davies said the rally had been called in response to feedback from frustrated members who are disillusioned over a number of issues, especially the lack of police resources.
“Members are at breaking point, there are just not enough resources to get the job done. Members are stretched to the absolute limit as a result of chronic under resourcing and the community is telling us that they no longer feel safe,” he said.
“We need police back on the streets immediately. The Chief Commissioner must conduct an audit to find our missing members and commit to returning them to the front line,” Snr Sgt Davies said.
Act Insp Kitchen said the shortage at Cranbourne was the result of promotions and members being transferred to other posts.
“There is no drastic shortage, the Cranbourne station is ticking along well,” he said.
“A number of members have been promoted to detective positions and at the same time we’ve had officers transferred to Peninsula stations.”
“I’m conscious of the fact that Cranbourne is a growth area, and we’re conducting internal audits to improve our practices and boost our numbers,” Act Insp Kitchen said.
Act Insp Kitchen confirmed he was a member of the Police Association, but said Tuesday’s rally did not affect police services in Casey.
“It was business as usual. Any police members that went from this area did so on their own time,” he said.
“Members of the community can be assured that their safety will not be affected by any (stop work) action.”
Act Insp Kitchen also earmarked major structural changes to the Casey Police Service Area including the relocation of the Traffic Management Unit (TMU) from Narre Warren to Cranbourne Police Station.
“There will be great benefits to the people of Cranbourne in relation to this move. It will create a major police presence on the roads in the area,” he said.
Major changes will also take place in the Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) with all Casey detectives set to be based out of Narre Warren.
Act Insp Kitchen said the relocations would result in renovations occurring at the Narre Warren Police Station.
“The move is subject to permission from the owner as the building is privately owned,” he said.
The Police Association has a 99 per cent membership rate among sworn members and has promised further industrial action if Victorian Premier John Brumby does not meet with the union to discuss its issues.