Community
21 March, 2025
Policing forum sees strong attendance
RESIDENTS had the opportunity to share their concerns of public safety and crime with Victoria Police members at a forum held on Tuesday evening.
Around 30 residents attended the Neighbourhood Policing Forum, taking the opportunity to ask questions about community safety and criminal issues and learn more about crime statistics within the Corangamite local government area (LGA).
Acting Superintendent Efti Anastasiadis, Inspector Gary Best, Acting Senior Sergeant Stuart Revell, Detective Sergeant Rob Wilson Family Violence Investigation Unit, Warrnambool Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Andrew Raven, Warrnambool Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Peter Hunter, Investigation Response Inspector David Reither and Corangamite Senior Sergeant Bill Caldow spoke to a variety of issues within the LGA and provided advice for residents to protect themselves against crime.
Key topics discussed included family violence, crimes and drugs and road accidents.
Act Supt Anastasiadis said the idea of hosting a Corangamite forum came from the policing forum held in Warrnambool recently, which saw a number of Corangamite LGA residents in attendance.
“Attendance was really good,” he said.
“Some very good questions were asked amongst the community.
“Reiterating we are living in a safe area – Corangamite is a beautiful area and is safe and being able to listen to the community expectations of police and what they’re experiencing in their community is very beneficial.”
Act Sgt Hunter spoke about the various road incidents in recent months in the district, identifying speed, distraction, impairment, seatbelt non-compliance as the biggest contributing factors to fatalities and accidents.
Other members spoke to their areas of expertise, while also providing the community with advice including the importance of sharing information with police and encouraging the use of CCTV and dashcam footage.
Act Supt Anastasiadis reminded residents the police will listen to their concerns and act on them, and they should not be afraid to approach the police if they have concerns in their community.
Corangamite Shire Council deputy mayor Laurie Hickey said people shared their concerns “genuinely from the heart”.
“There are concerns about policing, but it is great to hear the we are in one of the safest wedges in Victoria,” he said.
Cr Hickey said Corangamite Shire Council was also working to advocate for improved road safety across the shire.
“We’ve continually got advocacy processes working through – through road safety, road funding, speed restrictions and limits,” he said.
“We’re continually for road safety, for more allocations to repair roads to a degree that are considered safe, and we encourage everybody to drive to the conditions when they are driving.
“Concentrate and look after each other.”
Terang resident Ken McSween said police forums were important to address the different needs and issues towns across the shire face.
“These guys, at the moment, are fairly stretched so they can’t be everywhere all the time,” he said.
“Policing forums let the average person share with Police what’s bothering them in their towns.”
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