Back on the beat

By Nicole Williams
BOOZY youths are out and families are back into parks in Greater Dandenong following a police crackdown on antisocial behaviour.
Dandenong Police’s Safe Suburbs Taskforce has seen a drop in robberies and assaults in the city and Acting Senior Sergeant Ian Pregnell said the community was reaping the rewards.
“We are getting out and more back to the old-fashion style of being out and knowing people,” he said.
“There has been a massive effect across all suburbs in Greater Dandenong and from the start we have seen a lot of issues with youths in parks drinking and carrying on but now that doesn’t happen so much.”
Since the Safe Suburbs Taskforce began in October, assaults in Greater Dandenong are down by around 10 per cent and robberies have fallen by more than 15 per cent.
The Taskforce has spoken to more than 1700 people, checked more than 500 vehicles, made more than 220 visits to licensed premises and confiscated more than 45 weapons.
Taskforce members have also arrested more than 170 people for drunk and disorderly offences, more than 70 for assault related crimes, more than 40 for drug offences, 65 traffic offences have been detected and 24 people have been processed for robbery and burglary offences.
Acting Sen Sgt Pregnell said the officers on the street had received a lot of positive feedback.
“When the boys are out they really notice the difference,” he said.
“It’s been quite good having those positive comments and the boys see they are making a difference and making people feel safe.”
The taskforce will now be a permanent feature on the Greater Dandenong beat and will also expand into Casey and Cardinia.
“We’ve had quite a lot of success, particularly in and around transport hubs, like Noble Park and Dandenong, with the volume of people that frequent area there are always going to be some issues,” he said.
“We are now taking the success from Greater Dandenong and putting it across the two other service areas.
“They’ll all be based together and be able to go where the problems are and where the need is.”