On track to nab council vandals

POLICE once powerless to stop vandals defacing council-owned garden beds and roads have been given permission to book offenders under council’s local laws.
Greater Dandenong councillors voted in favour of requests from Transit Police based at Dandenong Police Station to have their officers empowered with local-law enforcement.
A report before council at Monday night’s meeting requested 12 officers be given the local law powers to extend the officers’ ability to keep the peace around train stations.
Police can currently enforce local laws prohibiting consumption of alcohol in a public place.
But until this week they were powerless to enforce laws such as people entering or remaining in a municipal place under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or destroying and damaging garden beds, flora, roads, or any other council-owned assets. On-the-spot penalties for such breaches are typically $200, the report states, with a $1000 maximum.
Councillors voted unanimously to allow the Transit Police the authority to enforce local laws.