POLICE NUMBERS IN CRISIS

2nd March 2010

The Brumby Labor Government has failed residents in Knox, State Member for Ferntree Gully Nick Wakeling said today.

An internal email leaked to the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition shows that police numbers in Knox are in crisis, with officers being requested to undertake "excessive nightshifts" to cover the shortfall.

"Police numbers in Knox are in crisis," Mr Wakeling said.

"John Brumby has failed to properly resource Victoria Police and has left the community without proper protection and policing.

"Police officers in Knox already work in a stressful environment and John Brumby is compounding that by failing to provide enough police numbers, forcing officers to work excessive hours," Mr Wakeling said.

The internal email stated that ‘Due to acute staff shortages that we are experiencing, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to fill our night shift commitments.' It then went on to call for officers interested in ‘working excessive night shifts.'

"It is despicable that there is such a shortage of Police officers in Knox and John Brumby and his incompetent Police Minister should be ashamed," Mr Wakeling said.

/ends

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