By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Endeavour Hills Police Station’s weekend-night closure is continuing beyond its three-month trial period for further evaluation.
Opposition police spokesman Edward O’Donohue told State Parliament on 21February that many people in Casey were interested in whether the trial closure would be permanent.
Mr O’Donohue noted that Casey had just three police stations in the “enormous” municipality and its residents were concerned by the rise in gang violence, car-jackings and home invasions.
The municipality had been identified by the Police Association of Victoria as an area needing “one of the largest injections of additional frontline police”, he said.
“I think it is perplexing to many residents of Endeavour Hills that, with such strong population growth and such an increase in crime, the opening hours of the police station would be cut.
“That trial concluded earlier this month but there has been no public statement – or not one that I can discern from the minister – about the outcome of that trial.”
Since early November, the police station has closed at 5pm – rather than 11pm – on weekends.
Its August start had been delayed due to a community and local council outcry.
At the time, police said the move would free up police officers to patrol and respond to crime at night.
Police said an earlier review found low numbers of public attendances and phone calls to the station, particularly on weekends.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police were completing the evaluation of the trial.
“The hours will continue to run whilst the evaluation is completed,” she said.
