Ashburton Police Station – 1 Y Street, Ashburton
Brumby cuts local police numbers to the bone.
In October 2008 Victoria Police announced the possible closure of the Ashburton Police Station. Despite a public outcry, in March 2009 John Brumby and Bob Stensholt supported the stripping of ten sworn police officers from the Ashburton Police Station. The move means that that the station is now only manned part time – between 10.00am and 4.00pm – by just one officer, prompting concerns about response times and community safety.
The dramatic slicing of Ashburton police numbers shows the Brumby Government is out of touch on basic services. The Ashburton community is angry and has every right to be furious with Labor, both Premier John Brumby and local MP Bob Stensholt. There is no doubt they will be at greater risk as police are stripped out of Ashburton by Labor.
In November 2008 David Davis distributed a flier to residents in the Ashburton area and on 7 April 2009, wrote to them again and included with the letter a copy of a petition to the Legislative Council.
Click here to download copy Ashburton Police Station Petition
The petition with 79 signatures was laid on the table in the Legislative Council on 4 December 2008 . Another petition with 595 signatures was laid on the table in the Legislative Council on 6 May 2009 and another with 81 signatures on 3 June 2009.
David Davis raised the issue in the Legislative Council on 15 Oct 2008, 12 Nov 2008, 2 Dec 2008, 31 Mar 2009, 6 May 2009 (refer page 2064) and 12 Aug 2009.
Further, a number of public meetings have been held to protest the staff cuts at the police station. Click here to see flier for a Public Meeting to Demand Reinstatement of Full Police Complement.
Click here to view Notes from Public Meeting held on Wednesday 8th July 2009 in the Ashburton Baptist Church, Y Street Ashburton.
Click here to view TV clip of the June 2009 Public rally of concerned residents.
Click here to view TV clip of the September 2009 Public rally of concerned residents.
Click here for a copy of Keep Ashburton Police Station Poster. Please feel free to print and distribute this poster.
