As schools and businesses wind down for 2019 and families prepare for the holiday season, there are a few ways that you can help us ensure community safety in the coming months.
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Let us know if you're going to be away
2019 saw the launch of two modern alternatives to communicate with police - the Police Assistance Line (PAL), and a new Online Reporting (OLR) tool.
One of the features of the online reporting tool allows you to let us know when you're going to be away. This information could be used to reach you or your emergency contact if there is an incident at your home or to perform patrols in the area.
We can't guarantee that police will attend your property during your absence from your home, but knowing where potential vulnerabilities are in our community will enable us to more effectively prevent crime in the Wimmera region. To report an absence - even as short as a weekend away - please go to: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/palolr and click "Report Online".
Fire Safety
We are not even close to the peak of summer, yet in the last four weeks Wimmera Police and your CFA have attended 21 fires in the Region. The majority of these fires were entirely preventable. For example, driving a car with a hot exhaust over long dry grass, or mowing long dry grass over rocks is something no-one should be doing at this time of year.
Two people have already been interviewed and will face court for lighting a fire in a fire restriction period and for doing burn-outs causing burnt rubber to ignite roadside vegetation.
The wider community has a role to play as well. If you see something dangerous or suspicious - say something. Let us know your concerns via Crime Stoppers (1300 333 000) or come into a police station to report your concerns.
Road Safety
There have been 10 lives lost in the Victoria Police Wimmera Division this year (up from five in 2018). The main factors contributing to deaths across Victoria continue to be: speed, fatigue, distraction and alcohol/drug use. Over the coming months, your police will be spending time away from our families in an effort to reduce road trauma in our communities and avoid the horrible task of delivering death messages to families at Christmas. Please slow down. Please pay attention to road conditions. Please leave your mobile phone alone when you're driving. If you have a drink - do not drive.
The policing family of the Victoria Police Wimmera Division wish everybody a safe and happy Christmas and New Year period.
