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Neighbourhood Watch groups will receive Liberal-Nationals supportAn elected Liberals-Nationals government will lead the revitalisation of the Neighbourhood Watch program according to Member for Morwell Russell Northe. By Portal Admin - 17th December 2016 - Back to News The Liberal-Nationals have committed to providing $2m over four years to fund locally based crime prevention initiatives and central head office co-ordination.
"This comes after the current State Government failed to renew the $600,000 provided by the former Liberal-Nationals government," Mr Northe said.
"Aside from the funding cut, the chief executive officer resigned, leaving the organisation with limited resources to run and co-ordinate programs and community safety initiatives.
"The Government has also scrapped its crime prevention portfolio."
Mr Northe said the soft on crime approach of the city centric Labor Government was an unmitigated disaster for regional communities.
"Daniel Andrews' cuts to police resources and his willingness to allow Neighbourhood Watch to waste away has left communities which were once peaceful and proud now living in fear," Mr Northe said.
"The amount of crime currently occurring in regional electorates is totally unacceptable and Neighbourhood Watch meetings motivated by a strong police presence would be an important first step in curbing the crime."
Mr Northe said our local Neighbourhood Watch groups do their very best to minimise preventable crime by working in partnership with local police.
"The Morwell Neighbourhood Watch Safer Community Group has recently installed a community art project at the Morwell pedestrian underpass on Commercial Road, Morwell with an aim to reduce graffiti and crime in the area," Mr Northe said.
"This is just one example of what our local Neighbourhood Watch groups do in our local community."
Media contact: 5133 9088
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippsland.com
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