- Published:
- Tuesday 13 February 2018
The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring police have the state-of-the-art facilities they need to keep Victorians safe with the new $15 million Mernda Police Station officially opening its doors today.
Minister for Police Lisa Neville and Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green joined Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton today to officially open the 24-hour station, which will provide round-the-clock counter service and patrols to help tackle crime and improve safety across the Mernda area.
The station development was funded in the Victorian Budget 2015/16 and has been operational since November last year.
The facility includes specially designed interview rooms, a public entrance and foyer, conference rooms, discrete public consultation facilities, high-level security and new staff facilities.
The station houses uniform police officers, the Family Violence Unit, the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team, an Aboriginal Liaison Officer and other staff.
The Labor Government is delivering the single biggest funding boost in the history of the force, with more than $2 billion to recruit thousands more police, upgrade and build new police stations, and deliver a more efficient and stronger police force.
The Whittlesea region has been allocated 45 of the first 300 new police officers, as part of the Government’s commitment to deploy 3,135 new police over five years on top of attrition.
The massive boost to police resources comes on top of a new police training facility, new and upgraded police stations, high-tech automatic number plate recognition technology for all highway patrol cars, an expanded air wing, mobile technology and new police powers.
This investment is already having an impact, with a 2.5 per cent decrease in the number of offences in the Whittlesea Local Government Area in the year ending September 2017.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Lisa Neville
“This state-of-the-art facility will ensure our police officers have the facilities they need to reduce crime and the community has a 24-hour police response across the Whittlesea region.”
“We’ve listened to Victoria Police and given them the facilities they need – we’re focused on delivering a modern police force that has the laws, powers and resources it needs to keep the community safe.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green
“The community called for a new police station in Mernda, and the Andrews Labor Government has delivered.”
“This station puts the police in the heart of our community, and has the capacity to grow as our community does.”