NEWS DESK Police patrol Carjacking foiled A POLICE officer drew her handgun and shouted “I am police” to scare off three thugs who attempted to carjack her unmarked police car outside Bonbeach basketball complex, 9.20pm, Sunday 4 June. The leading senior constable in plain clothes and accompanied by a clinician, was at the stadium in Cannes Avenue to do a lighting audit when three large men carrying iron bars burst from the bushes and started clubbing the car. One opened the driver’s side door and attempted to hop in and steal the car, which rolled forward into a tree. The policewoman, still inside the vehicle, managed to regain control and drew her handgun while shouting “I am police” and reversed trying to escape. The men, described as Caucasian with strong builds, in their 30s, and wearing dark clothing, ran off east towards the football ovals. Nine police back-up cars raced to the area but the men were not found.
The long walk: John Billing and Craig Thomson are ready to step out on The Great Mornington Peninsula Bush Walk and Habitat Corridor walk. Picture: Yanni
Attempted break in AN Edithvale homeowner in his 50s disturbed an offender smashing a window at his Station St house, 11am, 1 June. The would-be intruder, described as Caucasian, 30s, solid build, 172cm, bright blue eyes, ran off along Rae Avenue. Anyone with information should call Detective Senior Constable Susanna Hughes, Kingston CIU, 9556 6111.
Drug buyer robbed
Walking on side of the wild A WEEKLONG walk starting on World Environment Day (Monday 5 June) is promoting the retention of wildlife habitats in Frankston and across the Mornington Peninsula. The Great Mornington Peninsula Bush Walk and Habitat Corridor, hosted by the Australian Wildlife Protection Council, began at the Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve, Frankston and will continue to Mornington Peninsula National Park at Gunnamatta on Saturday 9 June. Tuesday’s walk is from Baxter Park, Frankston-Flinders Rd, to Mt Martha. On Wednesday, walkers start at The Briars, Mt Martha, and continue on to Dromana.
the victim approached a witness to call police. The witness later said a car of similar appearance had driven alongside him in Balcombe Rd and the front seat passenger had pointed a gun at him. When the victim returned home he found the front window of his Warrigal Rd unit smashed and evidence that the offenders had gained entry. Police found a set of keys, torch and three rounds of ammunition under the window.
A MAN attempting to buy drugs from his dealer had a rifle pointed at him in the rear car park of Coles’ Mentone, 5.15pm, Friday 2 June. The victim, 26, of Mentone, had arranged to meet the dealer who arrived in a silver Holden Astra with two other men. The dealer pointed a sawn-off rifle at the victim while a man in the back seat demanded he empty his pockets. The victim handed over his mobile phone, $260 cash and a sheath knife and believes a shot was fired after he handed over the items. The offenders fled towards Florence St while
On Thursday they will start from Hillview community reserve, Boundary Rd, Dromana and continue on to Rosebud. There is no walk on the Friday, but on Saturday walkers will start at the Henry Wilson Rd wetlands, Rosebud, and continue to Gunnamatta. Protection council president Craig Thomson said that in 2010, when the Peninsula Link Freeway was started, many bushland reserves were bisected and habitat corridors lost. He said Melbourne Water’s proposed rezoning of the Herman St reserve, Rosebud, presented the group with an opportunity to reinstate part of the lost wildlife corridor.
Image of man sought in Edithvale attempted break-in.
Family violence figures reveal ugly trend Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au FAMILY violence figures have been collated and publicly released for the first time as part of a push to bring domestic assaults out from behind closed doors. The Victorian Family Violence Database released last week by the Crime Statistics Agency shows a rise in the number of cases every year from July 2011 until June 2016. Described by the state government as “lifting the lid on the hidden
scourge of family violence”, the database includes figures from Victoria Police, magistrates’ and children’s courts, the departments of Health, Human Services and Justice and Regulation, and Victoria Legal Aid. The figures show family incidents recorded by police in Kingston rose from 1104 in 2011-12 to 1496 incidents in 2015-16. They show the family incident rate per 100,000 people in Kingston rose from 735 in 2011-12 to 954 cases in 2015-16. Victorian Police Minister Lisa Nev-
ille said family violence was regarded as the state’s number one law and order issue. She said the database aimed to provide a comprehensive view of the demand for family violence services. Ms Neville said there had been a “significant increase in reported family violence incidents, as well as an increase in access to support services for victims”. The release abides by a Royal Commission into Family Violence recommendation, calling on the Crime Statistics Agency to “maintain and
develop the Victorian Family Violence Database and consider ways to provide additional data and links between information”. “The state budget 2017-18 provided $1.91 billion to implement all of the Royal Commission’s recommendations and reform Victoria’s family violence system to support victimsurvivors and hold perpetrators to account,” Ms Neville said. “This will help reform our justice system, establish support and safety hubs for victims and their families, provide after-hours support for wom-
en and their children, recruit hundreds more child protection workers, and work to prevent family violence.” Ms Neville said historically, family violence had been “swept under the rug and hidden from view”. “This database is an important step forward to make statistics on family violence publicly available. Only through transparency and public discussion will we create change. “This database means that all the information on family violence – from Victoria Police and the courts – will be in one place.”
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