A Liberal MP has slammed the state’s police minister for suggesting there is no link between growing crime levels across Wyndham and local police being under-resourced.
Western metropolitan MP Bernie Finn said the crime rate in Wyndham is a disgrace and needs to be fixed.
His comments come in response to an article in last week’s Star Weekly, in which police minister Lisa Neville said the two issues aren’t linked.
“This has to be one of the greatest examples of an Andrews government minister not living on the same planet as the rest of us,” Mr Finn said.
“The connection between a strong crime rate and a lack of police is very strong.”
Mr Finn said the state government needs to listen to the Police Association, which has called for an extra 159 frontline police officers for Wyndham, and to give local police the resources they need.
Three separate petitions launched by residents of three Wyndham suburbs are calling on the state government to provide the region with more police. They have gathered almost 5000 signatures collectively.
Star Weekly has learnt that the Wyndham North police station was closed between 9pm and 11pm on June 17, and again between 3pm and 11pm on June 18 due to a lack of staff.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the closure was due to “unplanned leave”.
Wyndham residents took to Star Weekly’s Facebook page to express their frustration with minister Neville’s comments.
Heather urged the minister to “pull her head out of the sand and check into reality”, saying “of course there is a link to insufficient police and excess crime figures in an ever-growing community.”
Robert wrote: “The government keeps increasing the number of households, but doesn’t provide the minimum infrastructure to back this growth up.”
Miriam wrote that she was “truly perplexed”.
“I’m unable to make my mind up on whether the comment is more ridiculous or insulting,” she wrote.
Lisa said the minister needed “a dose of reality”, while Rob wrote that “the police resources for our area are a disgrace”.
