Virginia Judge announces new 'justice precinct'
Member for Strathfield Virginia Judge has announced a new state-of-the-art mobile police command to be stationed in Burwood – and maintained it indicated there is still a strong police presence in Strathfield.
“This van will mean the police will be amongst the people and will have a stronger presence than it does now,” claimed Judge.
Law and order has become a major issue in the state election campaign, with Liberal seat contender Charles Casuscelli maintaining he will push for more resources for Strathfield.
The Boulevarde police station closed in 2009, and a “shop front” police office opened in same year at The Plaza.
A check by the Scenelast month showed the “shop front” was unmanned on at least one day during the hours of 10am to 3pm. Telephone calls made to the shop front also went unanswered, with no call forwarding to Auburn Police Station and no answering machine.
“We’ve had no complaints from residents saying that there is a lack of police in the Town Square. In fact, we’ve had residents say there are sufficient policemen out patrolling,” Judge claimed.
“In regards to the closure of Strathfield police station, I think tax payer money needs to be distributed evenly and the thing is we all want more.”
“I haven’t received any complaints from locals because policing is different and has changed in the past decade. We have mobile phones and better technology. With the old police station being positioned on the Boulevarde, there wasn’t a strong police presence in the Town Square unlike now”
Casuscelli says from his campaigning, Strathfield residents who called Burwood Police Station were told to contact Auburn instead.
“I’ve had around six or seven examples where I’ve spoken to Strathfield residents who call Burwood police station and then they would get redirected to Auburn police station,” says Casuscelli.
“People have stopped reporting crime because it is not addressed and they don’t feel safe to hang around the station area especially now since we don’t have a central police station.”
But Judge says this is a different story.
“Because Strathfield is unique and if you stand on one side of the Boulevarde, you’re in Burwood and if you stand on the other side you’re in Strathfield, who do you call,” says Judge.
“But with the van being based in Burwood as well as the improved police station, which is right in the centre of the electorate, we can address all suburbs in the electorate.”
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Comments
Seems amazing. She had three police stations closed and land sold off. Now she is on the law and order bandwagon promising a justice precinct.
Hipocracy and spin at its finest.
I feel that the policing issue is one that Virginia Judge has fought hard for and has been able to win significant resources for the local community. A mobile van that can respond quickly and effectively is especially relevant in a modern day contect.
I have lived in Strathfield for several years and thanks to the hard work and dedication to the local area shown by Virginia Judge I have noticed a drop in crime and feel much safer in my local area. I used to find Strathfield Plaza a no-go zone at night but now feel as if I can go there safely.
Because of this I will be supporting Virginia because Virginia has made the area safer for people like me
For reasons known only to Virginia Judge and the Labor NSW Government, a decision was made to move the Strathfield' police service - Flemington Local Area Command from Flemington to Auburn over 10 years ago. If you live in Strathfield and need to go to a police station, you need to drive for miles through the world's biggest cemetery to find the police station. The 'Strathfield' shopfront has always been a political stunt to convince locals there is a Strathfield police station. It was never open when it was on The Boulevarde and it is not open now in Strathfield Plaza. It is an expensive facade, signage with no service.
Judge says that locals are confused “Because Strathfield is unique and if you stand on one side of the Boulevarde, you’re in Burwood and if you stand on the other side you’re in Strathfield". Strathfield is only "unique' by design of the NSW Government, who have determined the areas of police commands. If there is confusion, it is because the Police service has decided to organise it's local area commands into geographical units which make no sense to anyone but them. Strathfield and Homebush are in Sydney's Inner West but are serviced by a police station which is located in a different geographical centre. Burwood Police Station covers suburbs like Drummoyne, Abbotsford, Five Dock, Rhodes, Mortlake etc but not Strathfield, which is located 1 to 2 kms from this station.
Police services have access to more technology than 30 years ago and not all services run from a physical police station but the big issue is delivery of accessible and responsive police services, particularly in areas where crime rates are much higher than the rest of the State. Are people in Strathfield supposed to be jumping for joy because a 'mobile van' will be driving around? Aren't all vans 'mobile' by definition? What is a 'state of the art' van? What is the difference between police cars and the mobile 'van'? I suggest there is no real difference but it sounds good in an election campaign.
I have watched this comedy of errors for over a decade and also watched in dismay that Strathfield has increasingly became one of Sydney's worst crime districts in Sydney. Instead of the cheap politics and wasting taxpayer's funds on police 'facade' shopfronts, stupid flyers from politicians etc, why not tackle crime and deliver good and reliable police services back to the people of this area?
Local people are getting bashed, robbed, assaulted, broken into etc - protection and upholding the law is one of the most important roles of the State Government. If you were the victim of these crimes, wouldn't you expect more than a promise of a new 'van'?