Maribyrnong police say they can understand why the local community is feeling unsafe due to the recent crime activity , however they are adamant they have remained on top of it.
Maribyrnong Acting Inspector Megan O’Sullivan said, “We completely understand the concern felt within the community when knife crime occurs in public places.
“That’s why we have boosted both vehicle and foot patrols at Highpoint Shopping Centre, with officers from the Transit Safety Division and Public Order Response Team providing ongoing support.”
Victoria Police said although the Crime Statistics Agency doesn’t directly report on knife crime, the public should be aware that most stabbings occur behind closed doors and between parties known to each other, including family violence and intra-criminal incidents.
And more than half of all assaults in the Maribyrnong area over the last year have been common law assaults, which are minor assaults usually with no injuries.
“We’ll also be staging a mobile police unit this week to ensure our presence remains highly visible,” she said.
“On top of this, we have a number of proactive operations coming up in the Footscray area to target those in the community who think carrying a weapon is acceptable.
“Safety in public places remains a key priority for us and we will continue to focus our efforts on ensuring the community not only is safe, but feels safe.”
