Concerned residents of suburbs in Melbourne’s west met Victoria’s Minister for Police and Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp to discuss concerns about community safety.
Minister for Police Lisa Neville said additional Operational Response Unit (ORU) teams have been deployed into areas including Caroline Springs, while police are also utilising the Air-Wing unit for surveillance.
The minister officially launched Eyewatch Melton- an open forum for residents of Melton, Caroline Springs, Diggers Rest and the surrounding suburbs to discuss crime and community safety issues, while helping police track down offenders.
“We’ve heard loud and clear the concerns of residents in Melbourne’s west; that’s why a digital platform like Eyewatch Melton is so important” said Ms Neville.
There are now 20 Eyewatch pages active across the state which have been described as “an effective crime-fighting tool that have led to arrests and the recovery of stolen property”.
The residents have been worried due to numerous incidents of aggravated burglaries, carjackings and home invasions in the area, sparking controversial measures in a bid to protect themselves.
The minister said the police in the area are working around the clock to fight and prevent crime, with a strong focus on aggravated burglaries, theft of motor vehicle and other high-volume crimes, resulting in more than a hundred arrests by the taskforce.
The minister said Victoria Police will soon have an extra 406 sworn police officers, mobile technology and other equipment.
Of the new officers funded, 300 frontline police will be deployed across Victoria, including in Melbourne’s western suburbs, to respond to local crime issues and the increased demand for police.
