Youth crime, gangs and home invasions have been identified as some of the main issues of concern to Wyndham residents.
The concerns were raised during three safety forums held in December – in Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and Point Cook – which were attended by a total of 158 people.
Another 256 Wyndham residents submitted feedback on issues such as crime and safety through the Engage Victoria website in December.
The forums, funded by the Department of Justice, were held as part of the Community Safety Networks partnership between Victoria Police, state government, councils, Crime Stoppers and Neighbourhood Watch.
A preliminary report on the forums was delivered to police last week.
Wyndham police Inspector Marty Allison said the three main themes of concern which emerged from the Hoppers Crossing forum were family violence, home invasions and youth hoon driving.
Inspector Allison said the issues raised at the Werribee event were the need for community connections and for different multicultural communities to work together; safety around public transport; and youth crime, disengagement and a lack of education and employment opportunities.
He said the main issues arising from the Point Cook forum were home invasions; gangs and anti-social behaviour predominantly involving young people; and residents’ desire for increased police visibility and patrols.
Inspector Allison said the issues required a whole-of-community response.
He said that Wyndham police also had two operations, Operation Regnant and Operation Static, in progress.
Operation Regnant involves overnight patrols to tackle aggravated burglaries, carjackings and related offences.
Operation Static, which began in January, uses intelligence to work out areas where crime occurs, so marked and unmarked police vehicles can patrol the sites.
He said Wyndham police hoped to host another community safety forum about mid-year, and would continue their Coffee with a Cop sessions and police pop-up events.
