Shaddy Cameron is calling on the Casey community to sign the Save Our Streets (SOS) petition in an effort to get more police on the streets after discovering new figures from the Police Association of Victoria show the City of Casey’s severe police shortages. 30737
By Kelly Yates
CASEY is suffering from one of the most severe police shortages in the state.
New figures released by the Police Association of Victoria show a critical shortage of police in the City of Casey, and in particular at the Narre Warren police station.
Police Association secretary Greg Davies said an extra 126 police were needed in the municipality to provide a visible and adequate police presence.
“While the Brumby Government continues to ignore the police numbers crisis, our police continue to be stretched beyond their limit and the local community fails to receive the pro-active policing service it deserves,” he said.
Shaddy Cameron, whose husband Ian Cameron ran the Criminal Investigation Unit in Narre Warren and officially opened the Coventry Road station in 1985, has been hitting the streets in Casey collecting signatures for the Save Our Streets (SOS) petition in an effort to get more police on the streets.
The widely publicised campaign calls on the State Government to put community safety first.
“Currently the Narre Warren police station is short 15 police officers per day just to make up the rosters,” she said.
Ms Cameron, who has a background in police welfare, said the feedback from the local community was that they were very concerned at the shortage of police.
Many locals also raised the issue of the Endeavour Hills police station not being manned 24 hours a day.
“The Narre Warren station is already short of police so how can they answer calls to Endeavour Hills,” Ms Cameron said.
“We need one hell of a lot of man power and resources to make our streets safer,” she said.
“We need trained police now. Bring back the retired police and sit them on the counters so we can have the young ones to run the streets.”
Ms Cameron is hoping to collect 70,000 signatures.
According to the Police Association of Victoria, two out of three police have considered quitting in the past year because of frustration and stress.
“The police are buckling under the strain and are losing the fight against violence and street crime,” she said.
Residents who are interested in signing the petition or assisting with gathering signatures can contact The Police Association of Victoria on 9495 6899 or www.tpav.org.au.
