The Nationals Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, has called on the Minister for Police and Crime Prevention to urgently allocate Protective Services Officers (PSOs) to the Morwell train station.
The Andrews Government’s own website states that PSOs are stationed at every one of metropolitan Melbourne’s 212 train stations – but only four stations in regional Victoria have a dedicated PSO presence.
“The latest data from the Crime Statistics Agency shows that crime in Latrobe City is disproportionately high with more than 10,000 criminal incidents per 100,000 population recorded in 2022 – the highest of any municipality in the state outside of Melbourne,” Mr Cameron said.
Recent data from the Crime Statistics Agency shows that while overall crime across the Latrobe Valley is down, the number of criminal incidents reported in Morwell for the year to December 2022 was up 6.5%.
“People continue to raise concerns with my office about the prevalence of anti-social behaviour in Morwell, particularly around the train station and bus terminal on Commercial Road, and the need for intervention is clear.”
“Despite the irrefutable evidence, the Andrews Government doesn’t see the need to station PSOs at the Morwell train station,” Mr Cameron said.
“This is just further proof the Latrobe Valley is being short-changed and left behind by a government whose concern for communities doesn’t extend past the Pakenham border.
“I acknowledge the wonderful work the Morwell police do in keeping our community safe, but they cannot always attend at the time an incident occurs due to resourcing.
“We have seen the presence of PSOs can serve as an effective deterrent for anti-social and criminal behaviour in other areas, and I am seeking urgent action from the Minister for Police and Crime Prevention in allocating PSOs to the Morwell train station.”
