Local MLC Wendy Lovell has used State Parliament to again push for staffing levels to be returned to normal at Whittlesea Police Station.
Speaking in the Legislative Council on Tuesday last week (Sep. 19), Ms Lovell said:
“My question is for the Minister for Police.
“There have been concerns
in the Whittlesea township that the opening of the new Mernda police station would see staff reductions at the Whittlesea police station.
“The concerns were arrogantly scoffed at by the government, but as feared, police command did remove four current vacancies from Whittlesea with plans to attach them to Mernda.
“The response of the community was overwhelming,
with over 400 people — who believe that their town is unsafe and that they are not getting the police service they need — attending a public meeting in Whittlesea last week.
“The removal of the four vacancies, coupled with two members on sick leave, has depleted the station staff by 50 per cent.
“The public meeting saw a
promise to reinstate two of the vacancies, but the community demands the other two vacancies also be reinstated to return Whittlesea police station to its full complement of staff.
“Will the minister reinstate the remaining two vacancies at the Whittlesea police station and guarantee the station will maintain its full complement of staff, being one senior sergeant, two sergeants and 12 senior constables or constables, following the opening of the Mernda station?” Ms Lovell asked in the Legislative Council’s question time.