Data from the independent Crime Statistics Agency confirms family violence has continued to rise across the Mornington Peninsula, as frontline policing resources in the local area have been cut since June 2020.
The data has confirmed a 5.55 per cent increase in total family violence incidents recorded in the Mornington Peninsula for the year ending March 2021, including deeply concerning increases in the following offences;
- Family Violence Common Assault up 5.69 per cent
- Breach Family Violence Order up 21.65 per cent
- Family Violence Stalking up 34.48 per cent
Furthermore, these increases come as the latest Victoria Police employee by location data shows that full time equivalent frontline police numbers have reduced by 3.54 per cent in the Mornington Peninsula police service area since June 2020.
These cuts follow the ongoing deployment of up to 1,200 Victoria Police officers into the Andrews Labor Governments beleaguered hotel quarantine program – despite the program spending 214 days offline since initially launching in March 2020.
The safety of residents in the Mornington Peninsula area is yet another causality of Labor’s failed COVID-19 response and Daniel Andrews has no plan to get worsening crime in the Mornington Peninsula under control.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Police and Crime Prevention, David Southwick:
“Just when the Mornington Peninsula needs its local police the most, Daniel Andrews has ripped them away to fix his mistakes in hotel quarantine.
“Victoria needs a new plan to put the safety of locals first and get our frontline police back into the community and preventing crime before it occurs.”
Comments attributable to Member for Mornington, David Morris:
“Mornington Peninsula residents have been left fending for themselves as crime continues to worsen and fewer police are available to help.
“More crime and fewer police is a recipe for disaster and the Andrews Labor Government must immediately commit to returning local officers to our local community.”
