Caroline Springs will never have its police station staffed after dark, according to a high-ranking police official.
Victoria Police north-west metro region’s Superintendent Glenn Weir said allocating staff to the station at night “would not be an efficient use of police resources”.
“It would be a waste,’’ he said.
‘‘Our focus is on frontline services; we want our officers out on the roads. People need to ring triple-0 if something happens at night, not the police station.”
Mr Weir said he could not offer a timeline on when police numbers and opening hours would be permanently increased at the station.
The Weekly was told in October it was likely to happen before Christmas.
Hours have been extended on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays on a trial basis for several months.
“That’s the longer-term plan,” Mr Weir said.
“The goal would be to have the station manned every day for the majority of the day, from early in the morning to late evening.”
Residents in Taylors Hill and Taylors Lakes formed safety groups following reports of drug use and syringes being found in a park near a primary school. A petition with 1000 signatures called for more police and longer hours at the Caroline Springs station.
Mr Weir said the Brimbank and Melton police service areas had received 90 additional staff since 2012.
