By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
THE Cranbourne Police Station’s officer in charge hopes to get extra boots on the ground in the State Budget’s $596 million crime crackdown investment.
The priority station services the country’s fastest growing suburb with 76 uniform members and has done so for more than two years.
Senior Sergeant in charge, Phil Atkins said just two or three extra frontline police would mean the difference between pro-active and reactive policing.
“That’s 10 shifts a week – I can put an extra car out five days a week,” he said.
The State Budget detailed a multi-million dollar Public Safety Package, including funds for 300 frontline police to be deployed across Victoria.
Sgt Atkins said with Cranbourne East reported to be growing by 88 people per week, even two extra cops on the beat would make a huge difference to their policing effort.
“We’re trying to catch up with population in resourcing, so we move resources around but two or three extra frontline police really does make a difference.
“I can put out that extra vehicle on patrol in peak afternoon periods and on the major arterial roads that run through here.”
Sgt Atkins, who has worked out of the Cranbourne station for just over two years, said staffing numbers hadn’t changed in that time.
“If someone leaves or gets promoted they are replaced but 76 is our core – if we go above that you’re happy,” he said.
State Opposition leader, Matthew Guy said the delivery was not enough.
“Pakenham police station was fire bombed recently, the City of Casey is nearly as big as metro Canberra and yet you sometimes have one divisional van operating at night,” Mr Guy said.
“The Police Association is saying they need 2000 extra frontline police, the State Government has given them 300.
“Police are overstretched, over worked and under resourced.”
