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Local Laws and Police partnership strengthenedLatrobe City’s Local Laws Officers and representatives of local police including Acting Senior Sergeant Chris Pegg, met on Thursday for the official signing of ‘The Authority’. By Latrobe City Council - 16th August 2005 - Back to News
‘The Authority’, signed by Latrobe City’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Buckley, provides police with powers to enforce Latrobe’s local laws.
A partnership between local police and the City’s local laws officers was originally developed in mid-2004 with joint patrols then undertaken through the central business districts to tackle loutish behaviour.
Latrobe City’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Buckley, said that the joint patrols then undertaken, targeted behaviour such as consuming alcohol in the streets, vandalism, urinating in the street, excessive noise and indecent language.
"The cooperative working arrangement between the police and Council officers proved so successful that we looked at ways of expanding the relationship that would benefit our community. The Authority we have extended to the police in regards to local laws does just that," Mr Buckley said.
"Authorising members of the local police in matters of local law, provides them with much needed assistance to perform their duties in relation to behaviour and a range of other community expectations.
"For example, issues such as extreme noise from parties late at night, can be handled with better outcomes for the community. Following complaints from neighbours, police might issue noisy revellers with a warning to reduce the noise; and if more complaints were received later in the night, issue on the spot infringement notices to the noise-makers as further incentive to abide by their instructions," Mr Buckley said.
Other local laws issues which could be addressed through the Authority include police taking action against someone deliberately despoiling the amenity of an urban neighbourhood through unsightly car wrecks in a front yard, or someone deliberately burning off in an urban area to spite a neighbour, or someone who wilfully and repeatedly endangers the lives of others by failing to contain stock on their property.
"The partnership with Latrobe City provides police with a streamlined means of enforcing everyday laws that most citizens abide by as a matter of course, which just a few people ignore in a disregard for other people in the community. As a result of authorising these powers, the community will be the winner," Mr Buckley said.
Acting Senior Sergeant Chris Pegg, said that in the same way that the joint patrols had been extremely effective in the past by providing the police with additional avenues for tackling public disorder issues; authorising the police to enforce local laws overall, could only lead to safer and more harmonious communities with an accent on enhanced liveability.
"The partnership and working relationship with Latrobe City has provided us with a streamlined means of enforcing the law, and consequently the community as a whole will benefit," Acting Senior Sergeant Pegg said.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com

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