BENDIGO’S police shortage has entered state parliament.
Liberal Member for the Northern Region Donna Petrovich called on the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Bob Cameron, to tidy up his own back yard.
Mrs Petrovich said she was disappointed Mr Cameron "had not taken the time to resolve the issues facing police services" in Bendigo.
"The delay in opening the new Bendigo police station, coupled with the structural and design issues is of great concern to the Bendigo community," she said.
"While the existing police station in Bendigo, adjacent to the Bendigo law courts, continues to be used to house prisoners awaiting appearance in the court it will continue to use valuable police power.
"It will take at least one police officer away for watch duty and at least two others are required to transport prisoners in and out of court.
"This coupled with no definitive timing for D24 to be relocated to Ballarat, means that extra officers are continuing to work at the old police station."
Mrs Petrovich commented on the Bendigo Weekly’s story late last month quoting a local police officer claiming there were not enough police patrols in the city.
"The impact of this extends to the outlying areas where it is sometimes necessary to call in officers from these regions. Our men and women in blue deserve better than this, and so does Bendigo."
