By JESSE GRAHAM
EMERALD will not see 24-hour services come into the new police station for the time being, despite the increased hours being the focus of the electorate’s 2010 campaign.
On 26 October 2010, then opposition leader of the Liberal Party Ted Baillieu, announced that Emerald Police Station would be upgraded and be manned 24-hours a day if the Liberal/Nationals coalition was elected.
Mr Baillieu said that police from Pakenham and the surrounding areas respond to after-hour call-outs and can take more than 30 minutes to reach an incident.
“A Coalition Government will upgrade Emerald Police Station and work with Victoria Police to ensure extra police officers to protect the local community from violence and anti-social behaviour around the clock all week,” he said at the time.
However, a Victoria Police spokesperson told the Mail last week that the new $8.8 million station, which was completed in February, would continue to have the same hours as the old one – 7am-11pm.
“For all other times, Emerald and the surrounding community continues to have a 24-hour police response via support from Pakenham and nearby police stations,” the spokesperson said.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin said that he met with Chief Commissioner Ken Lay to discuss the matter although no change appeared to have been achieved.
“Rostering is an operational matter for Victoria Police but I have repeatedly advocated for a 24-hour police presence in Emerald,” he said.
The Victoria Police spokesperson said the service takes into account issues including “the needs of the community, service demand and local crime rates” when considering police station opening hours and police numbers.
