CRANBOURNE’S new police station officially opened on Tuesday marking a milestone for the State Government.
The $6.7 million facility was the 100th police station to open since the Bracks Government was elected.
Premier Steve Bracks was joined by Police Minister Tim Holding, Assistant Commissioner Paul Evans, local MPs and police officers for the opening.
“Today is a very significant day as it marks a major milestone in the Government’s commitment to community safety, which is a top priority,” Mr Bracks said.
“Just as they need the latest equipment, our policemen and women also need state-of-the-art facilities to work from. That’s why this Government has funded the largest police station building program in the State’s history.”
Mr Bracks said the police station building program was part of a massive investment by the Government in community safety.
“The Government has also delivered additional officers, more money and improved equipment to Victoria Police,” he said
“Since 1999 we’ve recruited more than 1600 extra police – not only achieving, but exceeding our election commitment of 1400 additional police.
“This year we gave Victoria Police its largest ever budget, a mammoth $1.6 billion – up by more than $500 million since 1999-2000.
“And we’ve delivered hundreds of millions of dollars of new, high-tech equipment – including the Mobile Data Network and Metropolitan Mobile Radio networks, which give police instant, secure access to essential crime fighting information.”
Mr Holding said the benefits of investments in police, equipment and technology were paying dividends to the whole community.
“Recent Victoria Police figures show that crime in Victoria dropped for the fifth consecutive year this year,” Mr Holding said.
“They show that Victoria’s crime rate fell by 2.1 per cent since last year, and a massive 22.4 per cent since 2000-01.”
The new Cranbourne police station replaced a station made up of two buildings, one constructed in the 1980s and the other, which was originally a police residence, built in the 1960s.
Mr Holding said the new station consolidated all operational police units within one building, including a uniform branch, Criminal Investigation Unit and Pro-active Programs Unit.
The station also includes conference and interview rooms, a property store, holding rooms, administration work area, and staff facilities, including a gymnasium and male and female change rooms and showers.
