Gangs on street

By Tania Martin
AN Emerald woman is afraid to go out on Friday nights, with youth gangs holding the town hostage.
The woman, who didn’t want to be named for fear of reprisals, said the problem was getting worse.
Over the past four months the Mail has reported a number of incidents involving break-ins and vandalism in the town’s CBD.
Residents and traders have been calling for a larger police presence and more security cameras.
They say youth gangs are terrorising the town at times when they know police are not going to be around.
This also comes after the Mail last week reported in its story, ‘Eye on crime cost traders $50,000’, that local businesses would be left carrying the can for the cost of installing Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.
The woman said it was ridiculous when she couldn’t even go into town on a Friday night to get cash out of the bank.
“It’s appalling I attempted to go to the Commonwealth Bank (19 March) but I was too scared to get out of my car,” she said.
“There was a gang of idiots, all drunk and shouting and I was too afraid to do anything.”
The woman said the gang of more than 30 youths was brazenly flouting the law, with the police station just metres away.
She has questioned why there isn’t a bigger police presence in the town on Friday and Saturday nights.
“It’s just not safe in Emerald after dark,” she said.
The woman has also questioned why police can’t arrest the youths for underage drinking.
“I won’t allow my kids to go into town at night or to the video shop … it’s affecting all the businesses in town and everyone has the same concerns.”
Resident and former business owner Koos Groeneveld said youth-related crime had always been an issue in the town.
But he said of late the problem had escalated.
Mr Groeneveld said local traders should not have to foot the bill to install CCTV cameras.
“Why do we have to pay taxes for police when they are never there when we need them?” he asked.
Mr Groeneveld said he understood that the kids’ behaviour was linked to boredom, but something needed to be done to change the underage drinking and vandalism culture.
“We need some real solutions to the problem, instead of shoving the responsibility onto the traders,” he said.
Dandenong Police officer, Senior Constable Eddy McDonald will be visiting Emerald to undertake a safety audit, looking at some of the crime issues in the town.
He will make recommendations to police and the council on what could be done to make the area safer and reduce the crime.
Snr Const McDonald said it was a huge job.
But he said if anyone was willing to come up with ideas on how to keep young people engaged in a bid to curb crime, he was interested in listening.
Snr Const McDonald was due to meet with Emerald Sergeant Fiona Tolmie and Cardinia Shire representatives today (30 March).
Sgt Tolmie said there had been extra officers allocated overnight to combat the youth issues.
“We are also utilising new powers to move people on, and issuing a few fines,” she said.
“It seems to be working.”