Cade Lucas
This story was one of the top stories from 2024 and was originally published in January.
The operator of a private security firm employed by rsidents of a Wyndham Vale housing estate, says there’s increasing demand for the service.
Grant Burton’s company YPG Risk has been conducting nightly patrols at Wyndham Vale’s Jubilee Estate for the past two years, in a service paid for by its body corporate.
So far, Jubilee Estate is the only estate YPG Risk has taken on, but Mr Burton said that’s not due to a lack of interest.
“We always have a list of clients wanting to come on board. We talk to three housing estates a week already,” he said.
Jubilee Estate resident Matthew Mannix pays $300 dollars per quarter for the service and said it was good value.
“I feel like it’s assisted in deterring crime and making residents feel safer,” said Mr Mannix who has lived in the estate with his wife for past three years.
Jubilee Estate is located about 11 kilometers from the nearest police station in Werribee and recent media reports of the arrangement raised concerns about the ability of police to patrol new housing estates on Wyndham’s western fringe.
However, Mr Burton said this wasn’t the case and that his staff weren’t there to cover for police.
“There was no shortage of police that we’ve noticed, we see plenty of police out there,” he said.
“Police do a great job, we have a lot of confidence in them.”
A spokesperson for Victoria Police said its officers patrolled the area around Jubilee Estate 24-7 and that crime rates there had recently fallen.
“Residential break-ins in Wyndham Vale have in fact dropped by 19 per cent since pre-pandemic,” the spokesperson said.
“Only last week police conducted a three-day operation in the Wyndham area to target people wanted for burglary and theft of motor vehicle offences. During the operation local police checked more than 345 vehicles, recovered two stolen vehicles and arrested 16 people wanted for a range of offences.”
Mr Burton said it was the pace of growth in the area, not a lack of police resources or distance, that meant private security firms like his were being called on.
“ We don’t see a shortfall in police, but it’s a growing area and growing population so the need for more police is evident.”
Mr Burton said increased red tape had also changed the nature of policing.
“Police attend one job, it’s an hour off the road for that car. It used to be a lot faster but now there’s a lot of procedures in place that have to follow”.
Providing security in the meantime forms a large part of YPG’s role, with its patrol vehicle able to respond to calls within three minutes and its staff, many of whom are ex-police, equipped with bulletproof vests, body cameras, batons and handcuffs and able to restrain people if need be.
Star Weekly understands similar arrangements are common in housing estates across Wyndham.
