From left, Sergeant Tony Nestor, Opposition police spokesperson Kim Wells, Senior Sergeant Michael Wearne and Liberal candidates Inga Peulich and Luke Martin.
By Sarah Schwager
CRANBOURNE’S police numbers need to be increased, says Opposition police spokesperson Kim Wells.
Mr Wells came to Cranbourne last Friday to discuss concerns with emergency services in Casey.
“Every category of violence in Casey has increased,” Mr Wells said.
“We need more police in Cranbourne and we need these police acting in a proactive manner.”
Mr Wells said the rate of crime per 100,000 people in Casey had increased by 22 per cent, from 572 crimes in 2003-04 to 703 crimes in 2004-05.
But Victorian Minister for Police Tim Holding said over the past five years crime rates for most offence categories had fallen dramatically in Victoria, with a significant drop in crime in the City of Casey.
Mr Holding said the crime rate in Casey had fallen 13.1 per cent since 2001.
He said homicide was down 2.9 per cent, sexual assault down 17.6 per cent, robbery down 25.1 per cent, and car theft down 54.2 per cent.
“The figures are a tribute to hard work undertaken every day by Victoria Police,” Mr Holding said.
Mr Wells said there was a serious problem with the amount of violent crime in Casey, and it had partly to do with the growing population.
“If you have an increase in population, you have to have an increase in police,” he said.
Liberal candidate for Cranbourne Luke Martin said residents within the Cranbourne electorate were continually contacting him about a shortage of police.
“People should feel safe to travel on the Cranbourne (train) line and feel safe to go about their daily business,” Mr Martin said.
