By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A NUMBER of people seeking police assistance have been turned away from Pakenham police station due to a lack of police resources.
Throughout the day on Wednesday 4 November, a security shutter barred residents from accessing police at the front counter.
A police media spokesperson said there were not enough on-duty officers to man the front desk of the 24/7 station as set out by the Operational Safety Policy finalised earlier this year.
The policy, aimed at minimising terrorism-related risks to police due to recent threats against uniformed officers, requires at least two armed officers at station front counters at all times.
Tracey, who did not want to reveal her surname, waited for some time to be seen by a member of the police before leaving.
“It was a shock,” she said.
“If I had come for something more important, that would have been upsetting.
“They do a good job but if there are not enough police, what are they to do?”
Cardinia Inspector Shane Smith said the station was fully operational throughout the day, with urgent requests answered by police.
“We are still dealing with the public. They just have to press the intercom. They will deal with everyone as soon as they can,” he said.
However, Gembrook MP and Shadow Emergency Services Minister Brad Battin witnessed half a dozen people leave the station without speaking to an officer.
“There are no signs or anything to say they aren’t open or when they are going to re-open,” he said.
He blamed a lack of additional government-provided police resources for the access issue.
“Daniel Andrews has not committed to increasing police resources in this area despite being one of the fastest growing corridors in the state,” he said.
Four hundred additional police officers were recently redeployed to supervision and transit roles across the state, however no extra police were allocated to frontline work in Cardinia Shire.
“The support the police give is above and beyond. But to continue giving that support, they need the support of the government,” Mr Battin said.
Insp Smith doused the concerns about the Pakenham police manning issue.
“It’s a one-off today,” he said, explaining that a number of officers had to leave due to sickness.
Pakenham police station’s Justice of the Peace was also unavailable throughout the day.
The new police anti-terror measures finalised in June include:
* No police officer is to work alone in a station unless exempted by a supervisor following a risk assessment.
* At least two officers must work all patrols, including motorcycle patrols.
* Marked cars or motorcycles cannot be driven to officers’ private addresses other than in exceptional circumstances.
* All uniformed police must be armed and wear bulletproof vests.
* Two armed officers must man station front counters unless there is a security screen.
