Epping police station has experienced unexpected closures, causing locals to fear the station may be soon permanently closed in the future due to staff shortages.
The police station was closed on Tuesday, July 15 and there’s since been word the station may close permanently, with officers planned to be redistributed between Mill Park and Mernda police stations due to ongoing staff shortages.
The closures have come after Whittlesea has experienced a recent growth in crime rate.
According to the last Crime Statistics Agency data, aggravated robbery in the City of Whittlesea increased by 24 per cent, residential aggravated burglary increased by 31 per cent, stealing from a retail store increased by 45 per cent and motor vehicle theft increased by 81 per cent.
Northern Victoria MP Wendy Lovell said the police minister must “commit to providing adequate police numbers at Epping station”
“The possibility that the station may close permanently is very worrying,” she said.
Star Weekly contacted Police Minister Anthony Carbines for comment – a Victorian government spokesperson responded.
“Of the 3600 police roles we have funded, 186 went to Diamond Creek division, which services Epping,” they said.
Superintendent Kelly Lawson said the local police station has not closed despite the reduction in its use of the reception.
“The temporary reduction of Epping police station’s reception counters does not mean the actual police station is closed,” she said.
“When a police station reception counter is closed, police continue to respond to urgent incidents and prevent crime in the community. The closures of Epping are mostly occurring in the evening or overnight, when we know reception counters are rarely attended.”
Superintendent Lawson instead directed people to other police stations open in the area.
“Anyone who needs to attend a police station during these hours can attend Broadmeadows, Mernda or Mill Park police station which remain open 24 hours,” she said.
Ms Lovell pointed out the issues with relying on other police stations in parliament last week.
“Waiting too long for police to come from a station further away could mean the difference between life and death,” she said.
