Victoria Police grilled by frustrated Stonnington residents amid record number of serious crime arrests

One of the state’s senior police officers has revealed the force is pushing for change in the justice system after arrests for serious crimes hit a record number in the past year.

Police address Stonnington residents at Prahran Town Hall after a wave of criminal activity in the area. Picture: Euan Kennedy

One of the state’s top cops has conceded police are “frustrated” at the leniency of Victorian bail laws, revealing a record number of serious crime arrests were made in the last year.

Speaking at a sold-out policing forum in Stonnington, Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson said the Victoria Police force was advocating for change in the court system when quizzed over the number of criminals released on bail.

In a shock admission, Mr Paterson told the crowd that the force had “never arrested more people for serious crimes than we have in the last 12 months.”

“There are multiple parts to the justice system,” he said.

“We take offenders and bring them to the court, ultimately these matters are for the government.

“(Police) are frustrated with how it’s happening at the moment.

“There are more parts to the justice system than just the police and we are trying to advocate for those other parts.”

Victoria Police fend questions from Stonnington residents after a wave of crime in the area. Picture: Euan Kennedy.

It comes after Premier Jacinta Allan ordered a review into the state’s bail laws, conceding they were too soft and needed “to go even further”. Ms Allan doubled down on her decision on Friday morning, saying a review into the system would take three months to complete.

Mr Paterson was joined by a panel of officers at the Prahran Town Hall who were grilled by a full-house of outraged Stonnington residents demanding action on the spate of crime in the neighbourhood.

One local described the “air of menace” in the area, telling of hoodlums abusing others, stealing, dealing drugs and wielding weapons “in front of our faces.”

“Blood all over as if it’s normal,” the resident said.

“People just don’t feel safe, what are you all doing?”

Frustrated Stonnington residents urge Victoria Police to act on the ‘air of menace’ hanging over their neighbourhood. Picture: Euan Kennedy

Another resident told of a skate park in the area which had allegedly become a den for underage drug dealing without proper supervision.

A local shop owner said his staff members had been “punched” and threatened, while his property and neighbouring businesses had also been damaged by alleged offenders.

Police told the crowd — who noted particular safety concerns along Chapel St — that the neighbourhood was being targeted from the outside, with up to 80 per cent of serious crime offenders coming from other suburbs.

The policing panel announced increased foot and bicycle patrols to monitor areas including Chapel St in addition to existing initiatives to tackle crime.

“Know that we have heard you,” one officer said.

“If you feel unsafe on Chapel St then that’s something we need to address.”

It came after a turbulent 24 hours of crime on Chapel St.

One man became the victim of a suspected murder when his home was set ablaze at around 8.40pm on Wednesday night.

On Wednesday morning, another man was taken to hospital after being stabbed outside a Chapel St tobacconist.

Originally published as Victoria Police grilled by frustrated Stonnington residents amid record number of serious crime arrests