Smaller police stations face reduced hours in move towards station ‘super sites’
VICTORIA Police will reduce opening hours at some stations across the state despite concerns from the powerful police union about cuts to services.
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VICTORIA Police will reduce opening hours at some stations across the state despite concerns from the powerful police union about cuts to services.
The move is a step towards “super sites”, which police would use as a base but which would allow them to spend more time on the road.
It comes ahead of the release on Thursday of crime data, which the Sunday Herald Sun understands will show troubling increases in weapons and explosives, family violence, theft and drug offences.
It is expected crime figures statewide are climbing, particularly in Greater Dandenong, a hub for the Apex gang.
Counter service hours would be stripped at some stations, with cuts already being felt on the Mornington Peninsula, Nunawading, Ashburton, Knox and Victorian ski fields.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton has said there were no plans to close stations but confirmed some stations would have reduced opening hours.
“We want our officers to be out on the road as much as possible,” Mr Ashton told the Sunday Herald Sun yesterday.
“But we are not planning to close stations; that’s not in the plan at this point in time.
“The other thing was around rural policing, where there was concern around us shutting rural stations. That’s certainly not on my agenda.”
Mr Ashton said his assistant commissioners had asked for more flexibility over when stations under their control should be manned so they could have fewer hours of front counter services and more hours of cops on the street.
Mr Ashton said many 24-hour stations were within 10km of each other and there were often also smaller stations nearby.
He said it was not a good use of resources to have every counter available to the public at all times.
Police Association secretary Ron Iddles said the force was concerned about future Victoria Police plans but was still awaiting the details, which were expected to be unveiled later this month.
“We don’t support the notion of having one super station and having shop fronts and kiosks,” he said.
“I think the community is a long way off from accepting this.” It comes as Infrastructure Victoria released details of plans under consideration that would see “super site” police stations opened in regional areas.
The State Government has committed to not closing stations in regional areas or suburban areas.