Community members will soon have a chance to sit down with a police officer, to have their say on policing in Bendigo.
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At the first ‘Coffee with a Cop’ event, police officers will sit down in Hargreaves Mall, ready to hear from all-comers.
Local area commander, Inspector Shane Brundell is looking to hear it all: commendation, complaints, criticism, and constructive comments.
Read more: From accounting to life in the police force
Engaging with the community is critical to Bendigo police’s ability to work effectively, Mr Brundell said.
And a cup of coffee gives officers a chance to just have a low-key chat.
“If we’re going to be responsive to the community’s needs, then we need to know what those needs are,” he said.
“One way of doing it proactively is to go to the community, that otherwise would probably have no interaction with police… and ask them the questions.
“This is a unique way in a really casual setting, where there’s no pressure on people, or less pressure on people, to speak candidly.”
Hargreaves Mall was chosen as the site of the first event as a prominent site of community concern.
Inspector Brundell acknowledged the regular complaints of misbehaviour and public order issues.
In addition to a visible police presence, police were looking to work with all users of the mall to build safety.
“Hargreaves Mall has attracted its fair share of community concern for a long time. We’re very very conscious of that,” Inspector Brundell said.
“It’s a matter of us working with the community, working with the City of Greater Bendigo and working with local businesses to improve.”
In Inspector Brundell’s 32 years in the police force, the face of policing has changed dramatically.
Community engagement is now a critical part of police work.
And Inspector Brundell believes in the concept of hearing what’s concerning the community’s needs.
“I think it’s just the way we’ve matured,” Inspector Brundell said.
“It’s just a way of finding solutions to problems together, rather than just police trying to arrest their way out of a problem, which we know historically doesn’t work.
“This is a way of working with the community and other partners to find more sustainable solutions that everybody can contribute to.”
- Bendigo’s next ‘Coffee with a Cop’ will take place at 11am, Thursday August 2, at the Muffin Break in Lansell Square