Forum tackles career criminals

THE first Casey Ward forum on tackling crime will take place next month.
The six monthly forums – one in each ward – will run from July to December.
The first will be held in Edrington on 22 July and the second forum will be held in the Four Oaks Ward, which takes in Endeavour Hills, in August.
The City of Casey is believed to be the first municipality to trial the separate forums.
Police Local Area Commander Inspector Paul Breen broached the idea with all 11 councillors during a meeting earlier this year.
Each forum will encourage residents from that particular ward to come forward and discuss a number of common crime concerns in Casey, including family violence, hoon driving, theft from cars and the prevalence of ice.
Insp Breen hopes “hundreds” of people will attend each forum.
“We had to make it more local. I went to the councillors and had a workshop in my office, and we discussed that we need to be more front and centre,” he said.
“As far as I’m aware, it’s the first of its kind.”
Asked whether he envisaged running the ward forums annually, Insp Breen said crime prevention and the safety of the community was an “ongoing discussion”.
“It’s not just a one off, and you walk away from it,” he said.
“Casey is an outstanding municipality, a great place to work but, like all things, we can’t become nonchalant and complacent.
“There’s crime groups that are preying on our young.
“They get up in the morning and they’re criminals, that’s what they do for a job.”
For more information, contact Casey Council on 9705 5200.
Ward Forum dates:
Edrington – 22 July
Four Oaks – 26 August
Springfield – 30 September
River Gum – 21 October
Mayfield – 25 November
Balla Balla – 2 December