Face slashed

By Kelly Yates
A TEENAGE girl from Pakenham who was slashed across the face with a glass bottle during a brutal attack last weekend has praised the news that more police are coming to Casey.
With 450 extra officers to come through the Police Academy this year, and plans underway to redeploy 266 police back into frontline roles, Victoria Police has announced that the City of Casey is one of the key areas which will benefit from the boost in police numbers.
Victoria Police determined Casey was in “immediate need” of extra police.
And 18-year-old Abbey March-Maddams agrees. The teenager is recovering at home following her attack in Narre Warren, which has left her with three scars across her face.
She was bottled, punched and kicked by her attackers, who were of Pacific Islander appearance. Police have dubbed the assault as a “cowardly act.”
“We definitely need more police, especially in trouble areas like Narre Warren,” she said.
“I’m still shaken up from the attack. I don’t want to leave the house,” she said.
“I tried to take my dog for a walk and freaked out when I saw some men walking along the same path as me. But I do feel a little safer knowing more police are on their way to Casey.”
A 17-year-old boy from Doveton and a 16-year-old Noble Park boy have been charged with affray and serious assault offences in relation to the attack on Ms March-Maddams.
They will appear at the Dandenong Children’s Court on 29 October.
The City of Casey is one of 10 areas throughout Victoria set to receive extra police.
Victoria Police is in the process of determining how many officers will be placed in each of the locations, and is working to ensure the allocations are “balanced” and go to police stations most in need.
Casey Inspector Andrew Miles said police working in Casey were “thrilled” to have area identified as a “priority.”
“Additional police numbers will provide us with the opportunity to enhance the service currently being provided to the community and allow us to have a greater impact on crime, public order and road trauma,” Mr Miles said.
“Once the exact number of police being deployed to the Casey Police Service Area is determined, we will certainly welcome them.”
Police Association secretary Greg Davies said they had consistently maintained that Casey required a significant increase in numbers of frontline police officers to properly protect and serve its community.
“This view is backed by independent research conducted by the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research which in a recent study concluded that Casey required a boost of an extra 126 police officers to keep pace with the rapid population growth,” Mr Davies said.
“This puts Casey in the top three “most in-need” for additional police resources in Victoria.
“There is little doubt that Cranbourne and Narre Warren are among the busier police stations in the state.”