Hannah Hammoud
The decision to implement reduced reception counter hours at the Keilor Downs police station has been described as a ‘slap in the face’ to the local community.
The Keilor Downs police station will join several stations across the state that will no longer have 24-hour reception counters, as Victoria Police continues to deal with staff shortages.
Victoria Police said reception counter hours will be “temporarily” reduced during off peak times at 43 police stations across Victoria, but provided no timeline as to when reception counter hours will return to normal.
The Keilor Downs police station reception counter hours will be reduced from 24 to eight hours per day.
At the most recent council meeting on December 12, councillor Virginia Tachos raised a notice of motion imploring the state government to work with Victoria Police to reverse this decision.
Cr Tachos said the Brimbank community has the right to be safe, “just like everyone else”.
“I am very concerned about the shortage of police officers in Brimbank and the proposed reduction in hours of the police station in Keilor Downs,” she said.
“The safety of our community is of paramount importance and it is being undermined by these measures.”
North west metro division three Acting Superintendent Shane Brundell said the reduced hours at the station will allow police to respond to urgent incidents.
“Please be assured – the temporary closure of Keilor Downs’ reception counter does not mean the actual police station is closing,” he said.
“… The closures will also mostly be occurring at times when we know reception is rarely attended.
“Anyone who needs to attend a police station during these hours can go to Sunshine Police Station which is only 7km away and open 24 hours.”
Cr Tachos cited concerns around placing “limits” on the community’s ability to access their local police station.
“… especially in the lead up to Christmas time – which we know is a time where incidents can spike and issues arise – to have this reception close will put additional pressure on the Sunshine police station.”
In Brimbank, recorded criminal offences increased by 4.6 per cent across the municipality in the 12 months to June, according to the most recent data from the Crime Statistics Agency.
“While there are a number of reasons why crime rates are higher in Brimbank, it demonstrates the need for effective policing and resources, including both the restoration of police numbers and a 24 hour manned police station,” Cr Tachos said.
Cr Kerr said the decision was a “slap in the face” to the local community.
“The closure of this police station overnight means that there is no police station available to our local community between Sunshine and Melton,” she said.
“We want a 24 hour manned station. We have an ageing population in Keilor Downs, people don’t know how to lodge a report on the internet, they get confused with the phone system, they want a police station they can actually enter into.
“Stop putting our residents at risk.”
