Humming along nicely!

By Kelly Yates
RELATIONSHIPS between Dandenong Police and Sudanese youths under Operation Sarazan have reduced tension, a local police officer says.
Multicultural liaison officer Senior Constable Joey Herrech, who has coordinated Sarazan since its inception in November last year, said the operation had made the streets of Greater Dandenong safer.
“The success of the operation means it will continue. It’s a work in progress,” Sen Const Herrech said.
“Operation Sarazan has given the community confidence again, especially in Noble Park and Dandenong.
“There are always elements of crime in any suburb; it is impossible to have a crime free suburb,” he said.
Sen Const Herrech said the only problem the operation faced was its initial misinterpretation.
“Rumours surfaced that the police were targeting Sudanese youths but that wasn’t the case. It was all about the community’s safety.”
The Operation Sarazan crew said that having the police Hummer was a great youth magnet.
“It has proven to be popular among the Sudanese youth as it shows a contemporary style in policing,” Sen Const Herrech said.
“A small percentage of the work of Operation Sarazan is grabbing the crooks, detecting the crime then preventing it, but the majority of what we do is meeting and greeting the whole community,” he said.
More than 50 per cent of Greater Dandenong residents were born overseas and currently the municipality is made up of 151 nationalities.
The Operation Sarazan crew has attended a large number of robberies, assaults and cases of youths causing trouble.
Operation Sarazan has processed 169 offenders, checked 1337 people, issued 141 penalty notices and checked 497 vehicles.