THE police force has secured five additional staff to target key focus areas across the Limestone Coast as crime continues to reduce in Mount Gambier.
The region’s police force will soon welcome an additional detective, a family violence investigator, a victim contact officer and two additional patrol officers to the force.
In a major coup for the organisation, Limestone Coast Police officer in charge Superintendent Grant Moyle said it will allow the police force to keep its “finger on the pulse” when it comes to crime.
“I am very proud of the staff we already have and we have seen some of the lowest crime rates in the state over the last couple of years,” Supt Moyle said.
“However, I am very excited to welcome these new staff to the local service area, which will help us continue to positively service the area,” Supt Moyle said.
Following a review of crime statistics each day, Supt Moyle said a key focus for the police force is trying to reduce family violence in the South East.
“Assaults are still a problem we face and it is the domestic incidents that occur in private residences that are most common,” he said.
“An additional family violence investigator will helps us in trying to reduce those statistics and get on top of that problem area.”
Police continue to monitor crime trends each day and as a result the local force has been able to get on top of a number of the issues faced in Mount Gambier in recent times.
“I am extremely proud of how we have monitored particular trends and particular people when it comes to house and business break-ins,” Supt Moyle said.
“We have been able to stop those people and as a result have seen a big reduction in the number of trespass incidents in the area.”
South Australian Police is currently undertaking a major review of policing in regional areas and Supt Moyle said he was excited to see the outcome of the audit.
“We have not really had a country focus on the way we police, so it is exciting, particularly for the Mount Gambier force, which has been around since the 1800s,” he said.
“I want to see some good ideas – if someone can come up with a better way to do something, we want to hear about it.
“We want to have the people in the right places and have the most effective provision of resources.”
