警力缺缺，杯水车薪的远水不足灭近火！

墨尔本许多地区的警力人数，即使面临犯罪飙升，近两年间仍惨遭削减的质疑于上周得到证实。以华人比例极高的白马市地区为例， 2014 年间还有 94 名前线警务人员，到如今只剩下 83 名，而邻近的 Boroondara 市地区则从原本 111 名警务人员删减到 95 名。

 

于此同时，一份针对高阶警官的调查报告表明，许多打击犯罪的特别行动组皆因人手不足而成无牙老虎， 针对虐待儿童及性犯罪特别行动组人员短缺的窘境就是其中不幸实例。面对维州犯罪丛生，政府也表明将把培训新警务人员计画提前至 2017 年。

 

先不说这一切治安恶化的始作俑者正是现任州政府，也撇开现在反应实在决策过慢，对问题察觉更是过钝的事实。 但2017 年才开始慢慢培训新警务人员，这对于饱受犯罪恶化苦果的人民而言，不但犹如杯水车薪，更是让人深感远水救不了近火。

 

正如我过去一直不断的呼吁，我们需要更多警察，我们需要更强而有效的法律威慑并打击犯罪。 因为对于执政者而言，没什麽比保障人民生命和财产更为重要，也没什麽比保护我们社区邻里的安全更应优先。

 

英文版/ English version

We need more police

 

It was confirmed last week that the number of police in many parts of Melbourne has been cut over the last two years, despite the soaring crime rate.

 

For example, in Whitehorse there are now only 83 frontline police officers, compared with 94 officers in 2014. In Boroondara, the number has been cut from 111 to 95.

 

At same time, a survey of senior sergeants has shown that many specialist crime squads, such squads investigating child abuse and sexual offences, are so short of staff that are often unable to do their job properly.

 

The government has recently said it will bring forward the training of new officers to 2017, but this response is too little and too late – the government should not have caused this crisis in the first place. As I have said many times before, we need more police and stronger and more effective laws to deter and lock up offenders and keep our community safe.