MEMBER for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has tabled a petition in parliament with 2257 signatures calling on the government to ensure that the Mernda Police Station is fully staffed and returns to being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It was evident that community members were outraged with the decision to reduce the opening hours of the station to just two days a week.
Mernda station only opened in 2017 as a 24/7 police station and was promised extra staff to serve the growing community.
Last year the station was closed for weekends and restricted to 10am-6pm on weekdays.
Last week, the hours were cut even further to Tuesday and Thursday from 10am-6pm and all other times are closed.
The additional cuts have left the community disgraced and even recently violence has been prominent in the town.
Only three months ago local man Aiden Becker was allegedly stabbed and killed at Mernda station protecting a 14-year-old-boy who was being targeted and assaulted by a group of people with weapons.
“Residents of Mernda and Doreen fear for their safety because crime is rising under Labor, but police stations are closing because Jacinta Allan has failed to fix the staffing shortage.” Ms Lovell said.
“The government must listen to the almost 3,700 locals who signed this petition and reopen Mernda police station.”
