CRESSY residents still feel vulnerable but have resigned themselves to the fact the town could remain a police-free zone.
But Cressy District Action Group president Bev Jacobs, who has pushed for a police officer in the town for two years, said residents refused to accept that their town didn’t need a police presence.
The town, north of Colac, has been without police since its sole officer Ted Ivermee retired two years ago and a Beeac police officer has divided their time to patrol the area in short intervals each week.
The State Government built a new police station and residence in Cressy five years ago, which has been abandoned since Mr Ivermee retired.
Victoria Police says it is still investigating whether the town, which has a population of 122 including surrounding districts, needed a police officer.
“A review on demand for service in the Cressy response zone is being conducted – the town receives 24-hour police service from Beeac,” a Victoria Police media spokesperson said.
Ms Jacobs said Victoria Police told residents when Mr Ivermee retired that Cressy no longer warranted a police officer because the town had no businesses.
“We have got a shop open now – and as much as we might not have businesses, we have got a bowling club and a recreation reserve that have liquor licenses and functions,” she said.
“A lot of people are feeling vulnerable because there is no police here.”
Ms Jacobs said Cressy residents were at the point of giving up.
“It would be lovely for us to have one, I think it would give people a sense of security,” she said.
“But we have gotten used to the fact that we were told we wouldn’t be getting one, because we have to,” Ms Jacobs said.
“We were basically told we wouldn’t be getting one so we learn to live with it – you go with the flow because that’s what we have to do in life,” she said.
Police Minister Peter Ryan said the State Government was “committed to the maintenance of one-member stations”.
“The priority is that all communities, irrelevant of where they are located, have appropriate levels of policing available to them,” Mr Ryan said.
“Resourcing our police force at appropriate levels and providing a police presence in all communities across our state is a fundamental component of our government’s policy,” he said.
Tags: Cressy, Police and Emergencies
