Listening to your voices

Editorial: Danielle Ford

Photography: John Pallot

When illegal dirt bikes plaguing the Craigieburn area rode through a children’s soccer match it was clear the behaviour had crossed a line.

Local police made the problem a priority, listening and following through on community concerns identified through a new grassroots policing model, Neighbourhood Policing.

They worked with the community through local sporting groups and the council to address the issue – staging extra patrols, mobile camera operations and supporting the construction of new roads and parkland to deter offending.

The effort has resulted in around 50 motorbikes being taken off Craigieburn’s streets in less than 12 months while numerous offenders have been held to account.

“The feedback we’re getting back from the community about the impact we’ve had is really positive,’’ Inspector Dean Clinton, Hume’s Local Area Commander, said.

“The bikes were basically riding around kids and parents, through the middle of sporting grounds and on footpaths. They posed a serious safety risk.

“We’ve put a lot of resources into various operations to target the problem in this community.

“And we’re hearing positive things about the change that it’s making out here.”

The win against illegal dirt bikes in Hume is being credited to the new model of community policing and engagement which has been rolled out across the state.

Neighbourhood Policing sees police compile a register of issues that matter most to their local community, task officers to specifically address these concerns and report back to residents on their progress.

Police work closely with partners like local councils, community groups and government agencies when issues are complex.

Neighbourhood Policing was initially rolled out to eight locations including Hume last year.

The initiative has been used in the Glen Eira Bayside area to address illegal events and alcohol consumption along the foreshore at Half Moon Bay and Black Rock.

Inspector Catherine Wilkins, the Local Area Commander, said digital and traditional signage was used to deter the behaviour, complemented by messages posted on the local council and Victoria Police’s Eyewatch social media pages.

Police and the council had also worked together to increase targeted patrols.

“This has led to early identification of emerging issues on warm days and timely responses from police and council officers, helping prevent safety and public order issues,’’ Inspector Wilkins said.

Assistant Commissioner Tim Hansen said Neighbourhood Policing signalled a return to the basics of police work, by working with the community to address safety concerns.

The voice of the community was key in deciding what was a police priority, along with other indicators such as crime, public order and road policing data.

“It’s a wholesale shift in how Victoria Police does business – we don’t want to just be responding to calls but also prioritising problem-solving and prevention,” AC Hansen said.

“We will always be focused on catching crooks, but we want to provide a more even balance between reactive and proactive policing – helping identify emerging issues before they become a problem.”

For more information about Neighbourhood Policing, visit police.vic.gov.au/neighbourhoodpolicing