BRIMBANK and Melton’s new superintendent wants to strengthen ties between police and community leaders.
Superintendent Rick Nugent says he will also push for a greater focus on proactive policing to support enforcement strategies and prevent reoffending.
“Enforcement’s a critical part, but I’d much prefer preventing the crimes from occurring in the first place than actually having to catch them [offenders], ” he said.
“A lot of the work critical to what we do is the proactive areas … programs in schools and teaching vulnerable youth to steer them down the right road.”
Superintendent Nugent said there were some gaps in the area’s policing of family violence.
“One challenge is we need to increase confidence so there’s an increase in reporting of family violence. But it’s also important the programs we undertake prevent that person from being subject to more violence in the home.”
Superintendent Nugent previously held the same role in Bendigo, Ballarat, Mildura and Warrnambool.
He has also worked as a detective in major crime areas in suburbs like St Kilda as well as in the ethical standards department.
He says he’s delighted to be working with the people of Brimbank and Melton.
“The demographic is quite different to the other areas I’ve worked at as I’ve mainly worked in rural areas, ” he said.
“Here it is densely populated and there are around 150 different languages spoken in the area. It’s critical we have the right people engaging with as many different communities as we can.”
Superintendent Nugent said he had been impressed with the commitment of local police.
“There are a lot of police here committed to the organisation and policing. I’m trying to build on what was done before me.”
