VICTORIA’S longest serving police officers were honoured at a special morning tea at Parliament House last week. Police Minister Lisa Neville and Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton hosted the event in Queen’s Hall – where they thanked the officers for their dedication and service in keeping the community safe. Over their time the officers have witnessed changes in crime fighting techniques, including the introduction of random breath testing, drug testing and DNA profiling. It’s a whole new world. Among the 50 police honoured were Highway Patrol Sergeant Bruce Buchan, who has served at – among others stations – Frankston and the…
Author: Stephen Taylor
THE state government is introducing tough new legislation to combat a rising tide of violent carjackings and home invasions, many in the south-eastern suburbs, Mordialloc state MP Tim Richardson said last week. Specific and targeted stand-alone offences have been created for carjacking, aggravated carjacking, home invasions, and aggravated home invasions. “These have been developed in close consultation with Victoria Police and will include tough new penalties and statutory minimum sentences,” Mr Richardson said. “This is about giving police the tools they need to keep the community safe.” There will also be a presumption against bail for aggravated carjacking, home invasion…
FIVE businesses in Carrum and Chelsea were robbed or had attempts made to rob them overnight on Tuesday (11 October) last week. The businesses – all in Station St or Nepean Hwy – included a coin laundry, pizza shop, fast food caravan, antique shop, and licensed tavern. In two of the robberies, thieves used heavy implements to punch holes through plaster walls to gain entry. Police have charged a 36-year-old Whittlesea man with the coin laundry robbery. CCTV footage shows a man placing a magazine between the back door and the wall of the Nepean Hwy premises about 10pm, possibly…
A YOUNG woman driving for ride-sharing service Uber was subjected to a barrage of lewd comments and offensive behaviour after picking up a fare in Bonbeach early Sunday morning. The 25-year-old told police she drove to Harding Av to collect a man who ordered a ride via the Uber mobile app and when she arrived, two men were waiting to be picked up. The man with the Uber account hopped into the back seat while the other man – possibly named Sam – sat in the front passenger seat. The unidentified man in the front then began making “inappropriate sexual…
INTRIGUE surrounds the workings of the Peninsula Community Legal Centre, whose board resigned last month after their recommendation to solve a “governance problem” was rejected by members. Chairperson Amanda Graham wrote to members late last month saying independent legal advice had recommended the centre’s constitution be amended to resolve the problem, but that three proposed resolutions put forward had been voted down at a special meeting on 8 September. This prompted the board to resign – a move over which it is now backtracking to enable the appointment of an administrator “to demonstrate that all options had been explored in…