Push for 24-hour

By Ed Merrison
A BOOST to Belgrave security has highlighted what some local traders see as a need for a fully functional 24-hour police station for Belgrave.
Members of Belgrave Traders Association (BTA), which last week received a Federal Government grant for new Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and monitoring equipment, are concerned the system may be rendered ineffective if there is no one at Belgrave police station to watch the footage.
The station, which runs a mobile patrol 24-hours a day, seven days a week, is unmanned between 11pm and 7am.
BTA secretary Jean McLennan said the next stage of the CCTV project was to press for a fully functional 24-hour police station.
“I’m a local resident as well and the police presence in Belgrave often becomes a hot topic. If it stimulates conversation it must be an issue that warrants attention at a political level,” she said.
BTA president Andrew Rayment agreed there was a need to increase the police presence in Belgrave.
“We would like to see police presence increase so it’s not just technically a 24-hour station, but effectively a 24-hour station. Having the (CCTV) monitoring at the station is good but at the time it is most needed there’s no one in attendance,” he said.
Both Mr Rayment and Upwey Village Consultative Committee (UVCC) secretary Mark Addison believe that manning the station through the night would also increase peace of mind and cut down response times.
“Being out in patrol cars does not give as much peace of mind or confidence as if there were people in the station. It’s not just for monitoring equipment but also for response times, call out times and so on,” Mr Rayment said.
Shire of Yarra Ranges District Inspector Peter Lardner agreed that CCTV could be effective in preventing and investigating crime but said its effect was limited and not the solution in all circumstances.
“There are many issues associated with the use of CCTV from both a technical and logistical perspective in relation to image transmission and monitoring,” he said.
He said in light of the BTA project, police management within the shire would be reviewing how to maximise the benefits of CCTV systems and ensure the police role in monitoring the system was appropriate.
Inspector Lardner also denied that having the station manned at night would cut police response times in Belgrave or any other area within the shire.
He said a new approach meant local police were being utilised to address matters within a local government area rather than in their immediate geographical area.
“This approach has significant benefits for policing within the Shire of Yarra Ranges as it allows us to increase the policing activity within an area, such as Belgrave, when evidence supports the policing need. So while there are no immediate plans to increase the number of police actually working at the Belgrave police station the capacity to address policing issues within the Belgrave area has been enhanced,” he said.Monbulk MP James Merlino said it was up to Victoria Police to decide how to allocate its resources.
“I think we all need to trust Victoria Police to operate in the way that maximises community safety.
“I would imagine that local residents and businesses would prefer Belgrave police officers to be mobile and patrolling the streets at 2am rather than being stuck behind a desk at the station,” he said.
But Monbulk Liberal candidate Clive Larkman agreed that Belgrave could do with increased resources.
“It’s supposed to be 24-hour and I believe it needs police there 24 hours. It’s great having a TV in a station and no one there watching it,” he said.