Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (11:46:42) — (14 123) My constituency question is for the Minister for Police. What information can the minister provide on how Yuroke residents are benefiting from the Andrews Labor government’s investment in new police and additional resources to prevent crime? From Craigieburn Neighbourhood Watch to the Highlands Community Residents Group, many organisations and individuals in the Yuroke electorate have expressed a strong interest in ensuring our community is a safe place for their families. I am pleased that this government has listened, providing local police with the resources they need. I also know that our local police are working hard and doing an outstanding job, and I thank them for these efforts. I look forward to hearing from the minister and sharing this response with residents in Yuroke.

Response:

I thank the Member for Yuroke for her question.

Many Victorian communities, including Yuroke, can look forward to seeing an increased police presence in their area with the roll out of additional frontline police across the State. Commencing in May, Victoria Police will deploy a total of 825 additional police officers during 2018-19.

As part of this deployment an additional 15 police have been allocated to the Hume Police Service Area, which services Yuroke. This is in addition to the 36 specialist unit resources, which will be shared across the broader Division.

This boost in resources is funded as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $2 billion investment in police under the Community Safety Statement 2017.

In addition, the Community Crime Prevention program has funded 10 projects, totalling $1,249,639 in the Hume LGA. These grants have supported security improvements at community facilities and clubs, education and training programs, public art for graffiti hotspots, graffiti removal projects, and amenity and infrastructure improvement projects to make public places safer.

As part of the Community Safety Statement 2018/19, the Government has committed a further $25 million over four years to help prevent crime before it can occur. This builds on the two year $19.4 million investment in community crime prevention and public safety in 2016/17.

Trusted organisations like Crime Stoppers and Neighbourhood Watch play an important role in helping Victorians to prevent crime in their neighbourhoods. The Government will fund these agencies to support the delivery of local crime prevention activities across metropolitan and regional Victoria. The long-term financial viability of Neighbourhood Watch and Crime Stoppers is now more secure.

I would like to convey my appreciation for the work that community organisations in Yuroke are doing to help keep their communities safe.

The Government’s record investment in police and community safety is making a real difference, with the continuing decline in the overall crime rate in Victoria since June 2017.

The Hon Lisa Neville MP
Minister for Police