By ANEEKA SIMONIS
CARDINIA Shire could be in the frontline to receive extra police at the beginning of next year.
Police in the south east have been under pressure as they combat both the Apex Gang, and a fresh wave of baby-faced copycats.
As a high growth area with youth gang-related crime, Cardinia should be in the box seat for much-needed reinforcements.
But questions still remain on how many members will be absorbed by units across the region, mostly needed within Pakenham’s busy 24/7 station.
In line with Victoria Police policy, Cardinia Inspector Shane Smith was unable to comment on the number of frontline police operating within the unit, but he did say the need for more police on the beat was great.
“Clearly the Cardinia area is a growth corridor which is expected to bring increasing demand for frontline police services,” Mr Smith said.
“As the Local Area Commander, I have and will continue to strongly advocate for the policing needs of Cardinia to service the current demand and importantly, into the future.”
Mr Smith said current and predicted future policing demand was understood at all levels within Victoria Police and had “no doubt” such demands would be taken into account when the additional 300 frontline police officers were deployed.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said the 300 frontline officers were expected to be deployed to areas experiencing high population growth by the start of 2017.
“These will be frontline police deployed to respond to local crime issues such as drugs, high volume crime (theft of and from vehicles) and anti-social behaviour,” the spokesperson said.
Drug dealing and traffic offences within the south-east police region increased 16 per cent, according to the latest 12-month crime statistics review.
Drug use and possession offences also jumped 27 per cent in 2015, with police handing out 375 drug-related charges in the 12-month period.
Theft is out of control, particularly in Pakenham – with skyrocketing reports of theft from unlocked cars and homes the source of major frustration to police constantly urging residents to lock up.
Dozens of Apex gang members from the southern metropolitan region, including Cardinia Shire, Casey and Dandenong, have felt the force of the law – charged with gang-related offences over a string of burglaries and car thefts increasing in recent months.
Juvenile offenders seemingly inspired by the violent gang appear to be following in their footsteps with a rising number of similar attacks reportedly committed by Apex copycats.
The gang’s method of operating is now almost famous.
Senior Sergeant Phil Atkins said the term now used to refer to ongoing car thefts and home invasions is “Apex style offending”.
A number of suspected Apex gang members charged with recent attacks, including terrifying home invasions in Brighton East and Ormond, were reportedly free on bail over similar offences.
The Andrews Government will soon introduce laws which will prohibit youth offenders from being futher charged if they breach their bail conditions.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the force had opposed changes to the Bail Act due to come into effect next month.
Youths out on bail can be charged for committing other criminal offences under the new legislation.
