Victoria Police is defending a decision to cut the hours police stations are open to the public in Melbourne’s booming outer north, arguing the move will mean more police on the road.
From this weekend, reception counter hours at Mernda, Mill Park, Whittlesea and Epping police stations will be reduced.
At Mernda, the move will see the police station reception counter cut from five days a week to just two.
In a statement, a Victoria Police spokesperson said the police stations will not be closing, with officers still working there, just not at the counter.
“These changes will not impact the 24/7 response we provide — in fact, it will boost it by adding extra police vehicles on the road when the community need us the most,” the spokesperson said.
They said police officers taken from admin duties were able to boost proactive operations in the community.
“This includes Operation Plaza, which sees police patrol Epping Plaza, Uni Hill Bundoora and Westfield Plenty Valley to engage with retailers and ensure public order,” they said.
“We have also been running Operation Renegade at Mernda train station alongside Protective Services Officers to deter anti-social behaviour and boost commuter safety.”
In March, 22-year-old Aiden Becker was allegedly murdered at Mernda station while trying to protect a 14-year-old boy.
The Police Association says the decision highlights a lack of police in the state. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said the reduction in hours was disappointing.
“This highlights the desperate situation we have been confronting for some time in regards to the severe lack of police we have in Victoria,” he said.
“Tax-paying Victorians and Victorian families deserve a full-time police force, not a part-time one. But in lieu of the 1,507 vacancies we have on the front line, that’s what they’re getting.”
Wendy Lovell, a Liberal MP for Northern Victoria, reiterated the opposition’s plan to recruit 3,000 extra police.
She said they would open Mernda, Epping and Mill Park police stations to the public 24/7.
“Under Labor, crime is up, but police stations are closing because Jacinta Allan has failed to fix the staffing crisis,” she said
“This is unacceptable for the community who need a local police station where they can find safe refuge.”
Premier Jacinta Allan said Victoria had the largest police force in the nation, and it was expanding.
Ms Allan said the government supported the police force’s decision.
“This is an active operational decision that’s been made by the chief commissioner, and we’re supporting him with additional resources to do this work,” she said.