POLICE have asked parents to be responsible for their children in a bid to stop violence on the streets of Frankston.
Frankston Senior Sergeant Steve Burt addressed an anti-violence rally in Wells St last Thursday (7 January) and urged parents to be proactive in ensuring their kids do not cause trouble in the city centre.
“Victoria Police doesn’t spell ‘parenting’. Victoria Police will hold people accountable for their actions,” he said.
“It’s not up to us to bring your children up. It’s up to you to do the right thing and expose them to … an appropriate environment.”
The anti-violence rally was organised by community group Victors Over Violence, a new community group aiming to help victims of violence, and ambassador Lee Will said the fledgling organisation wants to take as positive an approach as possible to win the fight against violence.
“Using the term ‘victim’ wasn’t something I wanted to do because I feel that’s quite a negative way of approaching it,” she said.
“It’s about tackling the lifestyle that is conducive to violence … and talking to people who are going through it.”
Victors Over Violence is working towards offering legal help, counselling and a safe house for people dealing with the aftermath of violence.
“I know all too well what’s happening out there on the streets,” Ms Will, a Frankston resident, said.
Councillors Sandra Mayer and Glenn Aitken and mayor Cr James Dooley attended last week’s V.O.V. event.
Cr Mayer and Cr Aitken spoke publicly at the event.
Cr Mayer said Frankston Council has “zero tolerance” for violence on the streets of the city.
“Being at the end of a train line this is what happens but we don’t accept it,” she said.
“The sheer statistics surrounding violence are astounding. It affects way too many people simply going about their own business under attack in their own safe space or what should be the safety of their own homes.”
Senior Sergeant Steve Burt said police are working in partnership with Frankston Council to tackle street violence and CCTV cameras help identify offenders.
“If you come in to Frankston and do the right thing we embrace you and want you here,” he said.
“Don’t come here unless you are wanting to be part of this community which is a great, evolving community with a great reputation that can continue to grow if we stand up and be counted.”
