Wednesday, 20 March 2024

Mornington electorate police resources

Chris CREWTHER (Mornington) (19:06): (595) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Police. The action I seek is for the minister to substantially increase funding, support, resources and staffing for Mornington police, particularly to enable them to better tackle the growing crime rate in our community. In December it was reported that the Mornington Peninsula, including my electorate in Mornington, is one of the state’s top five youth crime hotspots. The most recent data from last year states that there were 75 cars stolen, 45 aggravated burglaries, 26 serious assaults and 10 incidents involving weapons or explosives. Ever since my election as the member for Mornington, I have kept in close contact with anxious and concerned residents in my electorate who have contacted me regarding a spate of home invasions where cars, wallets and more have been stolen. With a number of break-ins being aggravated, it is lucky in some incidences that home owners and particularly children have not been at risk or injured.

Early last year many complaints were coming from Mount Eliza and Mornington in particular, which were identified as hotspots. Early this year many complaints are coming from Mount Martha, with a number of houses around Hearn Road, Capri Drive, Shearwater Drive, The Point, Churchill Road, Stanley Crescent, Ponyara Road and other areas being targeted for break-ins and burglaries. Residents have sat in their homes in fear that they could be the next victims of a brazen home invasion. One resident I spoke to a couple of days ago in Mount Martha said that their young daughter was only 10 ‍seconds away from coming face to face with an intruder coming out of the bathroom at the time, and she had wondered what might have happened if her daughter had come face to face with that intruder. She also noted the need to strengthen laws, to strengthen enforcement and to strengthen the consequences for offenders, as well as talking about things like Neighbourhood Watch and the need for further action in that area or indeed the need for private security when there are insufficient resources being given to local police.

Having visited Mornington police station just last week – I had the pleasure of presenting them with a Victorian flag, but I also had the chance to tour the station and meet with the officers – I know that they are doing the best they can to tackle the increased crime rates; however, they need more resources, more funding and more staff. I particularly note that Mornington police station had its hours reduced from 24 to 16, from Sunday to Wednesday, last year under the state Labor government. While the minister has publicly stated that an extra $600 million was included in the 2022–23 state budget for state policing efforts, this is all vague information, and very little clarity has been provided on the state government’s resourcing or lack thereof for Mornington police.