THREE months in to the role of Commander across Victoria’s Southern Metro Region and heading into the festive season, I thought it timely to reflect on the year that was 2013.
Police across the region have achieved some great results this year. We’ve been recognised as best practice policing for the Police and Youth Leaders Engagement Team (PYLET) program operating out of Dandenong Police Station and have successfully rolled out a number of intervention services in partnership with local health providers and Medicare Local for those suffering from mental health issues – the Mental Health Integration and Co-ordination Unit (MHICU) operating across Port Phillip and Police, Ambulance and Clinical Emergency Response (PACER) in Narre Warren.
One of the highlights for me since arriving in the region is witnessing the significant collaboration and commitment of government departments, agencies and partners joining together to deliver a safer community. Department of Human Services, Child Protection, Department of Justice, Corrections Victoria, the courts, Medicare Local, Local Government, schools, other emergency services and a myriad of community groups, just to name a few.
Earlier in the year we faced some challenges in relation to anti-social behaviour on our streets and property damage, including graffiti. As such, our members hit the streets as part of Safe South East, focusing on identified crime ‘hot spots’, namely our entertainment and shopping precincts and foreshore areas. As part of Safe South East, we also introduced Tactical Anti Crime Teams (TACT) across Greater Dandenong, Cardinia and Casey which have to date resulted in a significant reduction in our property crime through identifying drivers of this type of crime and working with local communities.
On the road policing front, 2013’s been bittersweet. While the number of fatalities in the Southern Metro Region is quite a bit down on last year, at the time of writing this 29 people have been killed on local roads this year. That’s 29 people too many. Twenty-nine people who won’t be celebrating Christmas with family and friends. Twenty-nine people who won’t be bringing in the New Year.
We’re working hard to get drug and alcohol impaired drivers off our roads, but there is still a long way to go. We plead time and time again – if you’re going to drink or take drugs, just don’t drive. Don’t get behind the wheel and don’t end up a statistic. For some people, the message still isn’t getting through.
We’ve recently raised the issue of home security, or lack of, over the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Our data shows the number of reported residential burglaries across the state was greater in January this year than in any other month. I don’t want residents living within Melbourne’s south-east to fall victim to this opportunist crime this holiday period. I don’t know if you’ve ever had the experience of being burgled, but I can tell you, those who have find it very traumatic – just knowing that a stranger has been through your belongings and been in your home. Don’t be a victim. Do something about it. Take steps to protect yourself. There are a number of handy fact sheets available at www.police.vic.gov.au
One thing that continues to frustrate me is the number of people who leave small electronic items such as personal music devices and cameras as well as money just sitting in the centre console or on the seat of the car. Theft from motor vehicles is so easy to prevent, yet more than 10,500 reports were recorded by local police during the 2012-’13 financial year. Just don’t leave valuables in the car. If you can’t avoid it, at least hide them in the glovebox or in the boot.
Looking forward to the New Year, the region is excited to be hosting a number of festivals over the summer period around the bay, including the iconic St Kilda Festival, Australia Day celebrations, Midsumma Pride March in St Kilda, the Grand Prix at Albert Park and New Year’s Eve on the Peninsula. A lot of police planning goes into making these events a success – both from a safety point of view and the enjoyment of patrons. It’s the same message across the board. Enjoy yourself, but don’t push the boundaries with alcohol. I can reassure the Southern Metro community, and indeed across the state, that all available police are working on New Year’s Eve (including me) to do all we can to make the night safe and enjoyable.
Local police will also be working closely with business owners across the Southern Metro Region into the New Year, developing strategies to reduce theft from shops. These thefts have a huge financial impact on our hard-working business owners, and it’s up to us as a community to do something about it. Some tried and tested options include installing CCTV and the employment of loss prevention officers.
Finally, I wish each and every one of you a safe and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I look forward to continuing our efforts in 2014 – by working together we can make Melbourne’s south-east safer.
Commander Doug Fryer,
Southern Metro Region.
