The Nationals Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, has launched a petition for more police and Protective Service Officers (PSO) resources for the Latrobe Valley after a concerning surge in violent and anti-social behaviour across the region.
Business owners and retailers in shopping centres and across the Morwell, Moe, Traralgon and Churchill CBDs have contacted Mr Cameron’s office en masse in recent month to report stark rises in theft, public drunkenness and assault.
Many are so concerned for the safety of staff that they have permanently locked their doors to the public and cut trading hours, while others report they are “living in fear” and reporting incidents to police daily.
“Every day my office is contacted by business owners and retailers at their wits’ end, after yet another instance of theft, vandalism, and in some cases serious assault,” Mr Cameron said.
“We have a serious problem with anti-social and criminal behaviour in town centres across the Latrobe Valley, and it is having a disastrous impact on small business and – more importantly – community safety.
“I have been raising the issue of police and PSO resources with the Andrews Labor Government for months, and repeated calls for action have fallen on deaf ears time and time again.
“It is absolutely criminal that the Andrews Labor Government is ignoring the very real safety concerns of residents, retailers and business owners.”
For the year to March 31, there were 10,319 criminal incidents per 100,000 population recorded in Latrobe – the highest of any municipality in the state outside metropolitan Melbourne.
“The Morwell electorate has the highest crime rate of any municipality in Victoria outside of metropolitan Melbourne, and now business owners and residents are telling us they don’t feel safe,” Mr Cameron said.
“The numbers don’t lie, and Labor can’t spin this data any other way – we need more police and PSO resources in the Valley and we need them now.
“Our police do a terrific job keeping our community safe, but their resources are stretched thin, and the reality is they cannot always respond to these instances in a timely manner.
“I am encouraging residents, businesses and retailers to sign the petition for more police and PSO resources across the Latrobe Valley.”
Businesses are welcome to carry copies of the petition and collect signatures.
To download the petition, visit www.martincameron.com.au/issues/ or collect copies from 12-14 George Street, Morwell.
For more information, phone 5133 9088.
