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Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh has launched a petition calling for more police resources in and around Rochester amid what locals describe as a “frustrating” level of drug-fuelled crime.
The petition calls for an increased police presence in rural areas, improved response times to triple zero calls, harsher penalties for offenders and increased rehabilitation and support for drug users in rural settings.
The Member for Murray Plains said motorcycles, tools, guns, fuel, cars, utes and tractors were being stolen on a regular basis in the area and a number of community groups and businesses had been victims of drug users stealing to fuel their habits.
“I think there’s good information now that quite a lot of the increase in crime is driven by people wanting to pay for their drug addiction so it’s important that when people are caught that it’s part of their time in prison, if they’re sent away, they’re actually rehabilitated so they come out clean,” he said.
Rochester Business Network president Glenda Nichol helped launch the petition, and said despite some recent progress, business owners were frustrated with what she described as an “inadequate” police presence.
“The current number of operational police we believe is inadequate to provide a satisfactory level of presence, particularly after hours,” she said.
“When they have to go to Lockington or Rushworth, when they’re out there, there’s no one here so lots of times we make a call and it’s diverted to Echuca.”
Ms Nichol backed Mr Walsh’s push for more drug services in the area and a stronger focus on rehabilitation.
“It can be people that are on drugs but they are released and they just reoffend, there’s nothing there to help them to rehabilitate,” she said.
Campaspe Shire councillor Leigh Wilson has previously called on the state government to address the issue, saying “without doubt drugs are the catalyst for this”.
“It’s the nature of the things they’re stealing is to obtain a quick dollar to fuel their habits,” he said at the time.
Mr Walsh plans to table the petition when parliament resumes next month.