By JESSE GRAHAM
EVELYN MP Christine Fyffe has called for more police in the Yarra Ranges after the latest crime statistics showed a rise in major crimes in the area.
The Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) released its latest state-wide crime statistics for the year leading up to 31 March 2016.
When compared with the year before in the Yarra Ranges, the statistics show an increase of crimes such as assault, sexual offences, robbery, arson, burglary, theft and drug crimes.
In the 2015-16 period, 722 assaults were recorded in the area, an increase of 69 incidents from the previous year, while 2245 thefts were recorded – 149 more than in 2014-15.
Sexual offences rose from 211 to 299 between the two periods, though property damage, deception and cultivating drug offences, among others, declined.
In both time periods, five homicides occurred in the area according to the Thursday 16 June report.
Ms Fyffe said the statistics pointed to a need for more police in the Yarra Valley and more stations to be staffed 24 hours a day.
“We obviously need more police in the valley,” she said.
“It’s very important – the police time is taken up a lot with car accidents and motorbike accidents, we know that and it’s horrific and the police have to concentrate on that, but when you have a place that has so many road trauma accidents, you’ve just got to have more police.
“As our population grows – and it is growing – we have to have more police.”
She said she was concerned about the increase of arson offences recorded – 124 incidents, up from 77 the year before – in the lead up to summer.
“The last thing we want is to come up to a bushfire season and have arsonists out there,” she said.
Lilydale Police Acting Senior Sergeant Linda Dillon agreed that more police officers were needed, but said it was a matter of resources.
“I come from another area altogether, (but) we’re all in the same boat – we don’t have enough police members to diligently do the job we should be doing, and focusing on those high volume crime,” Snr Sgt Dillon Said.
“We try as much as we can.”
However, she said that new 24-hour police stations, sometimes called “super stations”, can mean that nearby stations lose resources – meaning towns may have no police presence at all.
She said new stations with extended hours were also decided on factors such as population growth – such as that in the south-east.
“There’s quite a few factors that drive the building of a new police station,” Snr Sgt Dillon said.
She said residents could try to minimise thefts by keeping cars locked and not leaving valuables, such as laptops, inside.
“I think it’s just to be a bit more vigilant.
“Drugs, in general, are out there in all areas of the state and I think people that need money on the spot will go to any length these days to try and get quick access for it,” Snr Sgt Dillon said.
