War on thuggery

By Paul Pickering
A BOLSTERED police contingent in Cockatoo and Emerald will enforce a zero-tolerance crime policy to target unruly youths who residents say are holding the towns hostage.
The police operation was announced last Friday in response to a weekend crime spree in which 100 windows were smashed at Emerald Secondary College and Emerald Primary School, while Cockatoo’s Alma Treloar Reserve was again ravaged by vandals.
The incidents proved to be the last straw for exasperated residents, with police and local politicians being inundated with cries for help last week.
At a crisis meeting at Cockatoo Scout Hall on Friday, residents told of the escalation in criminal activity conducted by a group of up to 40 youths who regularly gather at Alma Treloar Reserve.
It was reported that graffiti, property theft and damage, drug and alcohol use, assault and anti-social behaviour have become a regular occurrence in the past 18 months.
Cockatoo Township Committee chairman Graeme Simpson described the behaviour as “stand-over thuggery”.
“It’s unfortunate that a small group of youths is holding a town of 4000 adults to ransom through fear,” he said.
“It’s about time the people of this town acted and stood up for themselves and didn’t tolerate it.”
Mr Simpson said he blamed the parents of the youths.
“Do they really know where their kids are at night?” he asked.
La Trobe MP and former policeman Jason Wood last week called on the State Government to target the area with increased police presence.
“The police are doing a great job but are under-resourced,” Mr Wood said, urging Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron to allocate more officers to the region.
But as Cardinia Inspector Chris Notman confirmed on Friday, a beefed up police presence has already been given the green light.
“As of yesterday, there will be extra police and extra patrols up there to enforce a zero-tolerance policy which will continue for at least the next few months,” Insp Notman said.
“Some will be unmarked, some in plain clothes, and we will be specifically targeting the main perpetrators of this anti-social behaviour.
“There won’t be any warnings anymore, whether it’s seatbelt offences or unroadworthy cars – we will be using all facets of the law to enforce it.”
Inspector Notman said that the ramped-up patrols will be complemented by the closed-circuit television cameras, graffiti clean-up kits and anti-vandalism education programs to be rolled out by Cardinia Shire Council over the next few months as a result of federal funding secured by Mr Wood in September.
“We are confident that we’ll make some inroads,” he said.
After being notified of the new operation, Mr Simpson was keen to send a message to the youths that have cast a shadow over his town.
“Eventually they’ll be caught and they will have to suffer the full force of the law,” he said.