NEWS DESK
Shire fears for police numbers in holiday crush
A privilege: New mayor Cr David Gill and his deputy Cr Rosie Clark. Picture: Supplied
New man at the helm RED Hill Ward’s Cr David Gill has succeeded Cr Bryan Payne as mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire for 2018-19. He was elected at the annual council meeting on Monday 12 November. Briars Ward’s Cr Rosie Clark was elected as his deputy mayor. Cr Gill in his acceptance speech said it was a “privilege” to be appointed and thanked his councillor colleagues for their confidence and support.
“The Mornington Peninsula is such a beautiful and unique part of Victoria,” he said. “My focus will be on continuing council’s strong advocacy on Green Wedge preservation and planning issues to ensure the unique character of the Mornington Peninsula is well protected. “I look forward to working closely and openly with our local community towards having an accountable and transparent council.”
The mayor was congratulated by Cr Payne who said it had been an “honour to guide the council and to serve the peninsula as mayor”. “When I was elected mayor I compared the position to that of an orchestra conductor. I now hand that baton over to Cr Gill,” he said. “My time as mayor would not have been such a success without the support of all my councillor colleagues. I thank them for bestowing upon me such an honour.”
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By Steve Taylor MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is concerned about a potential shortage of police over the busy holiday period. New mayor Cr David Gill last week flagged his intention to hold “positive discussions with senior police and the government after the state election (Saturday 24 November) to ensure that adequate police numbers will be allocated to the Mornington Peninsula over summer”. This follows claims that police could be understaffed and unable to cope with an emergency situation. “Over the Christmas holiday period the population on the Mornington Peninsula explodes almost overnight: from 163,000 to 225,000-250,000 people,” Cr Gill said. “On top of this, the area is visited by an extremely large number of day trippers. Such a great influx puts a lot of demand on all emergency services.” Cr Gill said police and all the emergency services on the peninsula were at “the very heart of community safety”. “Ensuring adequate numbers of police are available at this period is vital – not only for community
safety but also for the safety of our police officers and other emergency personnel.” A 20-year police veteran last week expressed fears the peninsula was facing a “desperate shortage of frontline police” over the holiday period, (“Police stretched in holiday crush” The News 13/11/2018). The officer, who The News did not name, criticised deployment numbers, particularly at Rosebud police station, saying its nominal complement of 60 police has been drastically cut by WorkCover issues, days off after night shift, leave and the usual four days off per fortnight. These had reduced actual numbers by more than half. Compounding the problem was the allocation of 12 trainees to the station which was “burning out senior constables”. Superintendent Adrian White, who oversees the Mornington Peninsula’s policing operations, refuted claims of a dearth of police. “There is no shortage of police on the Mornington Peninsula,” he said. “We task to suit demand and we have the numbers to adequately police the region over the holiday period. “There is no crisis.”
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20 November 2018
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