Ashburton police station to close five days a week as officers move on to streets
POLICE have closed the doors to a second station in Victoria as the force moves away from counter service and on to the streets.
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POLICE have closed the doors to a second station in Victoria as the force moves away from counter service and on to the streets.
Members at the Ashburton police station will lock their doors five days a week and officers will be deployed to investigations and other duties.
The latest closure follows the controversial move to not allow counter service at the new $16.3 million Somerville station.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Claire White confirmed Ashburton station would open only two days a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The move comes after a review into smaller stations, promoted by the order that police could not staff a station solo following terror threats.
“The review revealed that the face-to-face contact hours police were having with members of the public at Ashburton police station averaged out to 20 minutes a day,’’ Ms White said.
“The local community receives a 24-hour police response in the Boroondara police service area which includes specialist response from sexual offences and child investigation teams, highway patrols and crime investigation units.”
Police Minister Wade Noonan said the decision was an operational matter which “sits firmly with the Chief Commissioner”.
Opposition spokesman Edward O’Donoghue said the move was a concern, especially with the growing ice epidemic.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton flagged last month a new policing model aimed at getting officers away from the desk and back into the community.
Victoria Police said no other station closures were expected at this time.