By ANEEKA SIMONIS
NEW anti-terrorism measures will see Pakenham police officers armed at all times and working in at least pairs.
Officers must also wear bulletproof vests at all times under the new protocols announced late on Thursday 7 May.
The changes that are already in place follow the arrest of four men who had allegedly plotted to attack a police officer on Anzac Day.
Acting Senior Sergeant Darren Hedge from Pakenham police said the changes were a sign of the changing security threat levels in Victoria.
“It’s the way it is now … we have to be more aware of our members’ safety,” Acting Sen Sgt Hedge said.
The safety changes support the nation’s terror threat level which was increased earlier this year, according to a Victoria Police statement released on 8 May.
“The policy formalises much of the advice which has previously been provided to employees since the national threat level was increased to high in January,” the statement read.
The new anti-terror measures include:
No police officer is to work alone in a station unless exempted by a supervisor following a risk assessment
At least two officers must work all patrols, including motorcycle patrols
Marked cars or motorcycles cannot be driven to officers’ private addresses other than in exceptional circumstances
All uniformed police must be armed and wear bulletproof vests
Two armed officers must man station front counters unless there is a security screen
However, these arrangements have been questioned especially in certain circumstances.
It is unclear how the changes will affect part-time or one-man stations such as Kooweerup and Lang Lang, Police Association secretary Ron Iddles told radio 3AW.
“This is going to have an impact, especially in rural areas, where you have 16-hour stations,” Mr Iddle said.
“Service delivery will basically be halved or reduced, but that’s the cost of keeping our members safe.”
Victoria Police could not confirm if the changes will lead to the closure of Lang Lang police station, manned by a single officer for a maximum of eight hours a week.
“It will be assessed as required,” the police spokeswoman said.
It is believed police will carry out risk assessments to determine if one-man stations will remain under the new anti-terror safety measures.
Currently, Lang Lang residents are campaigning for a full-time police officer to return to the town after the town has been thumped with shocking increases in crime.
According to police statistics, the area has experienced a 72 per cent increase in crime since the town lost its full-time police officer in 2011.
Police feedback about the changes will be collected before the policy is finalised within the next few weeks.
What do you think of these changes? Have your say at www.facebook.com/PakenhamGazette
