City protests drain police resources in suburbs

POLICE are being forced to close suburban stations or take divisional vans off the road to monitor city protests.

POLICE are being forced to close suburban stations or take divisional vans off the road to monitor city protests.

The short staffing has left thousands of Victorians without a local police presence, as senior officers “rob Peter to pay Paul”. It comes as increasingly ­violent protests have been draining police numbers across the city.

Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt has demanded minimum staffing levels be introduced across the state to make sure suburban stations did not miss out.

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“Depriving suburban communities of their police response to keep the same warring groups from hurting each other is inequitable,” Mr Gatt said.

Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt wants minimum staffing levels across the state. Picture: Nicole Garmston

An eastern suburbs station was closed last Sunday while police monitored a Manus ­Island protest at the State ­Library. “The policing resources of several communities were stripped to look after a few hundred people in the city,” Mr Gatt said.

“This is why we want minimum staffing levels introduced, because it would expose this resource shifting for what it is, robbing Peter to pay Paul.

“Minimum staffing levels would ensure that stations remain open and maintain their ability to runs vans and deliver a consistent level of protection and peace of mind to their community.”

Manus Island protests have ramped up in recent weeks.

But Refugee Action Collective spokesman Chris Breen said their protests were peaceful and that the police presence was “overkill”.

“They should stop sending hundreds of police to rallies where they are not needed,” he said. “People have a right to protest. The officers in full body armour was overkill.”

Protesters rally at State Parliament against the Manus Island Detention centre. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

But protests across Melbourne have become violent, with police forced to use capsicum spray to separate groups outside an event for right-wing speaker Milo Yiannopoulos.

His organisers have been sent a $50,000 bill for the time spent by up to 300 police officers at his speech this month.

Protests in Coburg in May last year also descended into chaotic riots when anarchists clashed with right-wing activists.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said protests should always be peaceful, “but some of the behaviour we’ve seen by these groups has been disgraceful”.

“It does take significant police time and resources — that’s why on many occasions the organisers of events where protests occur have to pay. This is the same as when sporting or other events require a police presence and resources,” she said.

The government has funded the recruitment of 3125 additional police officers over the next five years.

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