Letter to the editor - Leader Newspaper |
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| Monday, 20 April 2009 14:53 |
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Mr Jon Ryan Dear Sir, As the Victoria Police Superintendent for the Boroondara area, I am concerned to read news reports undermining our decision to move police members from Ashburton to Camberwell. This decision is part of an ongoing review undertaken by police across the City of Boroondara to ensure that we continue to use our resources in the most effective way. Policing in Ashburton forms an important part of this focus. Over the past two years the City of Boroondara has experienced a significant reduction in overall crime, so I would like to reassure the community that this is a move that will only make the area safer. Historically, Ashburton has never provided a 24-hour police service. Therefore, moving members to the 24-hour Camberwell station, where they can be rostered to work a range of priority shifts, makes more sense when aiming to increase police patrols and enhance community safety. The addition of these members to Camberwell now provides greater resource flexibility and an ability to provide an additional car for use in the Camberwell and Ashburton areas during our identified priority and peak times. The addition of Ashburton members will also enable foot and bicycle patrols in Camberwell and Ashburton. The Ashburton station has not closed and will continue to be manned between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday to provide the same service provided before the changes. An after-hours phone has also been installed at the station to enable the community to speak directly with members at Camberwell at any time. In addition to this, the former Officer in Charge of Ashburton has been positioned at Camberwell to retain the connection with, and understanding of, local Ashburton issues. In my years of policing, it has never been the bricks and mortar of a police station that have provided a sense of security and wellbeing to a community – it is instead the police members who are out there serving the community. This will continue and they will remain working in Ashburton. In the past 12 months I can proudly reveal that crimes against the person have reduced by 23 per cent, and crimes against property are down by five per cent. These excellent reductions are a direct result of the combined efforts and commitment of all police working in the City of Boroondara. Graeme Collins Share This Page  
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