AT Wellington Square last week members of the Wallan Police Force staged another Coffee with a Cop event for the community to chat to police over a casual coffee in a mutual community space.
Eastern Division 3, Proactive Policing Unit First Constable Rose Halse encouraged shoppers to stop and have a chat with local police and seize a free coffee or information on crime prevention tips.
“We are busy behind the scenes, and our community don’t get to see that,” she said.
“But, people are seeing us here and saying thank you for your work!
“Coffee with a Cop shows the community that we are here for them and that we are all in this together.”
On the machete amnesty, a Police spokeswomen said it gets dangerous weapons off the street.
“The bins design ensures no items can be taken out, but we have a special tool to be able to see what’s in there,” she said.
“Once the bin is full it is collected, around every three days for Wallan, and the weapons are destroyed.
“It is getting them [open blade weapons] off the street and if we see anyone selling them, they are confiscated, and we record the details of the vendor.”
The amnesty ends on November 30 and in between no one will be prosecuted for disposing of a weapon. Mitchell Shire’s 24/7 stations, Seymour and Wallan each have a large blue bin located at the front of its stations for safe and anonymous disposal.
From December 1, it becomes illegal to own, use, carry, transport, sell and buy machetes in Victoria, unless you are covered by an exemption or valid approval.
Possession without exemption or valid approval can lead to up to two years in prison, or a fine of more than $47,000.
Crime Scene unit spokespersons answered questions about their roles and said no two days were the same.
“Our work begins after the crime,” they said.
“We obtain evidence for identifying offenders for investigators [to prosecute].
“We take finger prints, DNA samples, photographs; all the things you see on TV crime shows.”
Business owner Sunny Sharma is new to Wallan and he enjoyed hosting his first Coffee with a Cop in partnership with Wellington Square management.
“I am surprised by the community,” he said.
“I have been open only a month, and they have been very welcoming, very friendly. They are comfortable here too, not pushy; relaxed…and, they are great with my staff. It’s the young ones first job and the customers understand.”
rAKa’s is more than a café, it is a spacious restaurant with table service, and its name is an assembly of the initials of the special women in Mr Sharma’s life.
“The ‘r’ is my grandmothers, the ‘a’ is my wife’s mothers and in between is the initials of my daughters.
“Thank you to all the community for supporting us. I feel safe here, it’s good to know the Police are around.”
Coffee with a Cop is back in two months’ time at a venue near you.