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Original constituency question from Juliana Addison MP to Parliament –

My question is directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and is about community safety in my community of Wendouree.

I know that Ballarat is a fantastic place to live, work and raise a family, and I am not alone. That is why we are seeing more and more people making the move to Ballarat. The latest crime statistics report the offence rate for the Ballarat local government area for the year to 30 June 2019 has decreased by 6.6 per cent compared to the previous 12 months.

My question is: what police and community safety initiatives are in place in the Ballarat area to help our residents feel safer?

Answer from the Hon Lisa Neville MP, Minister for Police and Emergency Services (4th November 2019)  – 

The Community Safety Statement 2019-20 was released on 1 July 2019 and recommits the Victorian Government and Victoria Police to the shared community safety vision to be achieved through more police, more protection and more prevention. This is the third Community Safety Statement and maintains the five key community safety priorities of the government and Victoria Police: reducing harm, increasing connection to the community, putting victims first, holding offenders to account and improving Victoria Police capability, culture and technology. More information is available at www.communitysafety.vic.gov.au .

The Victorian Government’s record $3 billion police investment is delivering 3,135 new sworn police officers-on top of attrition- as well as state-of the-art intelligence systems, new technology, new and upgraded police stations, and stronger laws. I am pleased to announce that from May 2019, the Ballarat Division has been allocated 25 general duties police who will help combat crime in the Ballarat region.

Victoria Police has been involved in multiple community initiatives in the Ballarat area, which includes Wendouree. Ballarat was one of the first Community Safety Network’s established in Victoria, involving surveys and community safety forums. As a result of this engagement, the Ballarat Community Safety Project has had a campaign of events and activities to deliver community safety information to residents of the area and has increased the connection between police and the community.

The Your Voice Campaign in Ballarat and the Your Pyrenees Voice Campaign, in 2017 and 2018 respectively, included closing the loop sessions and interaction with the community through a series of pop up engagement events and targeted engagement opportunities. These campaigns targeted the crime themes identified by the community and included Coffee with a Cop, the Safer Communities Roadshow, the Police Youth Enhancement Program, Spring in the Park and Dob in a Dealer.

These initiatives have been a major contributor to community safety in the Ballarat area, which includes Wendouree.  The Victorian Government is committed to giving Victoria Police the resources it needs to keep our community safe.