Coalition to Increase Police Numbers In Frankston

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COALITION ANNOUNCES 1,600 ADDITIONAL POLICE TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFE AGAIN - THIS INCLUDES FRANKSTON

A Victorian Coalition Government will revolutionise policing and public safety in Victoria by boosting frontline police by an additional 1,600 recruits in the first term of government, Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Leader Ted Baillieu and Nationals Leader Peter Ryan announcedon Tuesday (6 April).

Mr Baillieu said the $344 million plan, Making Our Streets Safe Again, would end chronic statewide police shortages and restore public safety in metropolitan and regional communities.

“We will make Victoria safe again,” Mr Baillieu said.

“This unprecedented investment by the Coalition in policing will see a dramatic increase in frontline police numbers. It will have a huge impact in protecting communities across Victoria and will be the largest single increase in frontline police numbers over one term of government in the history of Victoria.

“Almost every region in Victoria is suffering from a lack of frontline police under John Brumby, with Victorians experiencing record levels of crime and violence. The Coalition will not tolerate crime, violence or anti-social behaviour,” Mr Baillieu said.

“Victorian families have a right to feel safe and secure in their community but under Labor, assaults and anti-social behaviour have reached record levels on our streets, with violent crime rising by 40 per cent and assaults increasing by 70 per cent.

“It is a basic responsibility of government to protect its citizens. John Brumby has failed this test. Law and order has not been a priority of the Brumby Government, but it will be a priority of a Baillieu Government. Victorians have a right to expect to be protected.

“The Brumby Government’s soft-on-crime approach has failed to make our streets safe.

“This policy will have an unprecedented impact in every suburb, town and region where police stations have been undermanned for years,” Mr Baillieu said

RECRUITMENT

Mr Baillieu said the Victorian Coalition would undertake a major police officer recruitment and training drive within weeks of gaining office.

“The Victorian Coalition will recruit and train 1,600 additional police officers ready for frontline policing duties in the community,” Mr Baillieu said.

“These officers will be made up of Victorians who want to become police officers, as well as recruits from around Australia, who will be trained at the Police Academy. An extra $8 million has been provided for capacity expansion at the Police Academy to accommodate increased recruit training.”

POLICE NUMBERS

“Victoria has the fewest frontline police per capita and spends less on police resourcing per capita than any other state in Australia,” Mr Ryan said.

“The Brumby Government has failed to provide Victoria Police with the resources required to protect communities and frontline police numbers have fallen well behind population growth and other states.”

Mr Ryan said Victorian families no longer felt safe on the streets because John Brumby’s soft-on-crime approach and lack of funding support had undermined the capacity and effectiveness of Victoria Police.

“The only way we are going to stop the disturbing trend of record violent crime is to reverse the appalling neglect of police resourcing under 10 years of the Brumby Government,” Mr Ryan said.

FUNDING

The Coalition will provide $344 million over four years to fund an additional 1,600 police, plus an additional $65 million capital allocation for operational equipment. This includes $8 million for expanded training facilities and staff at the Police Academy.

Consistent with the Coalition’s previous commitments to reduce the Brumby Government’s spend on advertising, $35 million per year – or $140 million over the next four years – will be cut from the advertising budget to fund frontline police.

This will see a reduction in the government’s annual advertising and public relations spend. The Auditor-General has found government total advertising spend to be 0.5 per cent of revenue, or approximately $200 million in the current budget year.

Some of the advertising programs likely to be cut include the government’s self-promotion of the desalination plant, transport plan (It’s all part of the plan), economic performance (We’re not waiting, we’re building), and education performance (Shine). Advertising for essential services, safety and critical public information campaigns will not be affected.

“Many of the Brumby Government advertising campaigns are nothing more than deceptive political advertising using taxpayer funds. Victorians can decide at the next election if they want more advertisements from John Brumby or more police from Ted Baillieu,” Mr Ryan said.

The remaining $269 million, or $67.25 million per annum, will be provided from funds available in the budget forward estimates and operating surpluses, which can comfortably accommodate this commitment within the state’s budgetary parameters.

BACKGROUND

Victoria Police has some of the best police officers in the nation, but Victoria does not have the number of frontline officers needed to properly protect communities against record levels of violent crime.

The Coalition will deliver the police required to make sure families can feel safe again on the streets, on public transport and in their own homes.

This announcement is part of an integrated plan to stop and reverse the culture of violence and growing levels of crime in Victoria. A significant increase in frontline police is crucial to all of these initiatives.

Many of the specific issues which have emerged over the last three years, including an increase in knives, alcohol-fuelled violence, gangs, hoons and anti-social behaviour, require a range of tailored responses – but any effective response needs an adequate number of police on the street.

OTHER COALITION LAW AND ORDER POLICIES

A safer train network – officers at every station
Abolishing suspended sentences
Tough new anti-hoon laws – crushing cars of offenders
Banning violent drunks from licensed premises
Banning the sale of knives to minors
Shake up of liquor licence laws
Strengthening Neighbourhood Watch
A new anti-corruption watchdog
Ending home detention
Outlawing criminal bikie gangs

INCREASE IN CRIME UNDER LABOR IN VICTORIA

	99-00	08-09	Per cent change
Total Violent Crime (Crime Against the Person)	31,372	43,971	Up 40.2%
Assault	19,856	33,668	Up 69.6%
Rape	1,170	1,543	Up 31.9%
Weapons/Explosives	4,554	7,142	Up 56.8%
Property Damage	38,360	54,122	Up 41.1%

Source: Victoria Police Crime Statistics

LIBERALS TO RECRUIT AN EXTRA 1600 POLICE TO MAKE FRANKSTON SAFER

The Liberal candidate for Frankston, Geoff Shaw, says 1600 extra police across Victoria is great news for the local community who will be the beneficiaries of the largest increase in police numbers in a single term of Government ever.

The Liberal Nationals Coalition has announced a plan to introduce 1600 extra frontline police at a cost of $344 million, to be partly funded by slashing the Victorian Government advertising budget, which is being used for party political advertising by the Brumby Labor Government.

“By increasing frontline police numbers in Frankston we will restore law and order and make our streets safer,” Geoff Shaw said.

“Families in Frankston have a right to feel safe and secure but under Labor, assaults and anti-social behaviour have reached record levels, with violent crime rising by 40 per cent and assaults increasing by 70 per cent state-wide.”

“We need to do more to protect Victoria and the Liberal National Coalition plan will do just that.”

The Liberal Nationals Coalition extra police plan, Making Our Streets Safe Again, is a response to the growing level of crime, violence and anti-social behaviour which has sky-rocketed in recent years.

Geoff Shaw said Victoria Police has some of the best police officers in the country, but there was not enough frontline officers available to protect communities against record levels of violent crime.

“Our plan will include a national recruitment drive for more police, extra funding for the Police Academy and additional money to equip the new recruits – more than $300m over four years.”

The Liberal Nationals Coalition extra police plan will be partly funded by savings from the Brumby Labor Government’s out of control advertising budget with the remaining funding to come from the budget surplus.

“We will redirect $35 million per year – or $140 million over the next four years - to policing from campaigns currently being used to promote the Government,” Geoff Shaw said.

“Important community information programs, such as the TAC or water saving campaigns will not be affected.

“Recruiting extra police, getting rid of suspended sentences and home detention, toughening anti-hoon laws, banning the sale of knives to minors and tougher liquor licensing laws are just some of the ways we will tackle Victoria’s law and order problems,” Geoff Shaw said.

“This shows our commitment to make Frankston safer.”

COALITION TO INTRODUCE TOUGH NEW LIQUOR OFFENCES LEADING TO A SAFER COMMUNITY

Inga Peulich, State Member for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Communities has welcomed tough new offences that will tackle anti-social behaviour at licensed premises as well as higher penalties for failing to leave licensed premises when drunk, violent or quarrelsome.

As part of the suite of policy reforms in the area, the Victorian Coalition will introduce two new offences that specifically target sources of violent and aggressive behaviour around licensed venues.

Victorian Coalition leader Ted Baillieu said a Coalition Government will not tolerate a mindless few threatening the safety of the responsible majority.

“We will take tough action against individuals who behave irresponsibly with these new laws and increased penalties,” Mr Baillieu said.

A Victorian Coalition Government will:
• introduce a new offence of remaining in the immediate vicinity of a licensed premises which an individual has been refused entry to or ejected from;
• introduce a new offence of re-entering a licensed premises within 24 hours of being refused entry to, or ejected from, the premises; and
• increase penalties by 150 per cent for failing to obey a direction to leave licensed premises when drunk, violent or quarrelsome

Ms Peulich said being refused admission to or being ejected from a licensed venue does not provide an excuse for violent, aggressive or threatening behaviour in the vicinity of the premises.

“A Coalition Government will introduce two new offences, which makes it illegal for a person to remain on the footpath or area adjacent to licensed premises where the person has been refused entry to or required to leave the premises and re-entering a licensed premise within 24 hours after they have been refused entry or ejected from,” Ms Peulich said.

“This offence will carry a maximum penalty of $2336.40 with an infringement notice carrying a penalty of $584.10.”

“Liquor licensees face tough penalties if they have drunk people on their premises, yet the on-the-spot fines for individuals who refuse to leave licensed premises when required to do so are relatively small, sending a mixed message,” Ms Peulich said.

ASSAULTS BY STRANGERS UP 269%
SERIOUS INJURIES FROM ASSAULTS UP 138%
ASSAULTS BY FOUR OR MORE OFFENDERS UP 124%

New Victoria Police crime statistics reveal violent assaults have continued to soar under Labor since 1999 and most alarmingly, attacks by strangers have more than doubled in the past ten years, Leader of the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Ted Baillieu said today.

Crime statistics across the state reveal:

assaults by strangers have increased from 1,522 in 1999/2000 to 5,616 in 2008/09
serious injuries from assaults have increased from 1,308 in 1999/2000 to 3,114 in 2008/09
assaults by four or more offenders have increased from 161 in 1999/2000 to 361 in 2008/09

“A small but growing minority of thugs are attacking strangers in record numbers because there aren’t enough police on the frontline under John Brumby,” Mr Baillieu said.

“These kinds of attacks occur because thugs think no-one will stop them, and if they do get caught afterwards they will only receive a slap on the wrist.

“Labor has failed to impose tougher sentences on violent offenders and the majority of offenders convicted of serious assault receive less than two years in jail.

“Labor has failed to abolish suspended sentences and failed to impose penalties for violence to meet community expectations and send a message to thugs that violence will not be tolerated.

“With the lowest number of police per capita in Australia, John Brumby’s policy has allowed a culture of brutal, random and gang violence to grow.

“John Brumby spends the least and has the fewest operational police per capita in Australia, which means attacks are likely to continue in record numbers,” Mr Baillieu said.

REPORT EXPOSES LABOR’S WOEFUL RECORD ON POLICING

The Brumby Government is allowing violent crime and assaults to escalate by refusing to boost police resources, with less police on the beat in Victoria than any other state, a report on government services has found.

Shadow Minister for Police and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan said Labor’s woeful under-resourcing of police had left Victorians dangerously exposed to violent attacks and anti-social behaviour.

“The Productivity Commission Report on Government Services 2010 shows that Victoria now has fewer operational police per capita than any other state in Australia,” Mr Ryan said.

“The number of police per capita in Victoria has been decreasing each year since 2006/2007.

“Furthermore, Victoria is consistently the lowest-spending state on policing per capita in Australia.

“There has only been a one per cent increase in government expenditure per capita on Victorian policing in the past five years, compared to the average increase Australia-wide of almost nine per cent.”

Mr Ryan said Labor’s police policy at the last election had left Victoria unprepared to meet record levels of violence and anti-social behaviour.

“In the past 10 years under Labor, violent crime has risen 40 per cent, and assaults have soared by 70 per cent,” Mr Ryan said.

“While Labor spends less on policing services than any other state, it is likely that the number of assaults on our streets will continue to rise.

“Labor’s soft approach on crime and its failure to boost police numbers is destroying Victoria’s reputation and undermining Melbourne’s liveability.

“After ten years in government, Labor has failed to make Victoria a safer place to live.”

BRUMBY GOVERNMENT MUST INCREASE POLICE NUMBERS IN BAYSIDE SUBURBS TO COMBAT ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

An Upper House MP has continued her call for the better use of police resources across the local community by the Brumby Government to deal with the rise in anti-social behaviour along the Kingston and Frankston bayside suburbs.

Inga Peulich, State Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Communities said bayside suburbs should not have to suffer as a result of police being syphoned off to the CBD to deal with the same behaviour because it gets more media attention.

The calls come in response to Ms Peulich’s ongoing campaign for a safer local beachside community receiving statewide attention on Monday.

Ms Peulich invited Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu to Gnotuk Avenue carpark in Aspendale to listen firsthand to some of the issues local residents have regarding anti-social behaviour.

“Many local residents are frustrated by the inability of police to respond to complaints of anti social behaviour and violence and fear that gang-related activity is on the increase as more and more people seek relief from hot weather on our bayside beaches,” Ms Peulich said.

Some of the issues reported to Ms Peulich at Gnotuk Avenue on Monday evening include:
• Drinking in an alcohol free zone;
• Police not turning up in response to repeated complaints due to having inadequate staff and having only one divisional van to cover the suburbs of Edithvale, Mordialloc, Braeside, Waterways and Aspendale.
• Cars doing burnouts;
• Failure to enforce parking restrictions;
• Failure to abide by the car park closure rules;
• Anti social behaviour directed towards local residents
• Damage to vegetation and private property
• Destruction of road signs in neighbouring streets
• Swearing, public urination and littering

“The Brumby Government has to answer where have all the police resources gone and why is the thin blue line getting thinner.”

“The Kingston and Frankston communities are exposed to greater crime and danger because the government seems to be taking police away from the suburbs in order to respond to violence in the CBD which has received more media attention and is more politically damaging to Labor,” Ms Peulich said.

“What is going on is unacceptable and the Brumby Government cannot continue to ignore the calls for help from the local community because there is increasing risk of a tragedy occurring.”

Ms Peulich said that there is a strong correlation between inadequate police presence and increased crime levels.

“The Brumby Government spending on police is the lowest per capita in Australia which undermines the safety of the community, the elderly and the most vulnerable,” Ms Peulich said.

“After 10 years in office, John Brumby and his Ministers seem to have run out of ideas and money to improve community safety.”

Ms Peulich said that she will also raise this serious matter in the Victorian Parliament when it resumes in the first week of February.

Frankston Crime Rate Up 8.0% In One Year

Inga Peulich, Liberal State Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Communities said the Frankston community should be deeply concerned with the latest crime statistics.

“The release of the crime statistics shows Total Crime up 8.00% in one year, Rape up 112.82% in three years, Theft of a Motor Vehicle up 42.98% in three years and harassment up 128.85% in three years,” Ms Peulich said.

“Throughout the past ten years, the Brumby Government has constantly patted itself on the back saying that it has a handle on law and order. It has developed government advertisement after advertisement saying community safety is being managed. These crime statistics prove that has all been government propaganda and that they have been misleading the community.”

“The message I have been receiving from the community and business owners is one that differs from the spin of the Brumby Government and these statistics confirm community concerns,” Ms Peulich said.

The staggering crime statistics come on the back of the Police Association claiming police stations in Frankston are well undermanned and unable to successfully tackle crime throughout our streets and suburbs.

“The police do a fantastic job to control crime in the Frankston community, but the fact remains that the Brumby Government has not properly funded our local force,” Ms Peulich said.

“John Brumby and the Labor Government must accept that their lack of investment in frontline policing is central to the record levels of crime and violence that is playing out on streets and across Frankston.”

Victorian debt will reach an annual bill of $2.2 billion and in 2012 Victoria’s interest bill will be greater than the entire Victoria Police budget.

“These crime stats are the cases that have been recorded and tabled by Victoria Police, many more crimes in the Frankston community are not recorded, with many residents either too scared to go to the police in fear of further attacks or unable to inform the police of a crime being committed against them,” Ms Peulich said.

“The Brumby Government must start taking law and order seriously and they must start hearing the community concerns.”

“No longer can the Brumby Government continue to sit on their hands and ignore the fact that serious crimes are on the rise. They have had ten years to address community safety and with serious crimes continuing to rise and they have failed,” Ms Peulich said.

“A government’s first obligation is to ensure the safety and security of law abiding Victorians. When governments fail to fulfil this obligation, communities are weakened and citizens live in fear.”

“In Victoria, the Brumby Government spends less per capita on police than any other state in Australia,” Ms Peulich said

“You know something is very wrong in Frankston when the Brumby Government fails to properly resource our police and fails to keep our streets and communities safe.”