Nearly 300 people attended the Community Safety Forum held on Wednesday 7 December at Manningham Civic Centre.

The Forum, organised by Victoria Police with the support of Manningham City Council, Neighbourhood Watch and the Manningham Crime Prevention Facebook Group, brought together community members to raise awareness of safety issues and crime prevention, and discuss safety concerns and ways to work together in the future.

Manningham Mayor, Michelle Kleinert said, “It was a great opportunity to hear directly from community members about the safety issues they are most concerned about, and Council was delighted to support the Police on such an important issue as helping our community feel and be safe.

“It was also great to be reminded how lucky we are to live in a safe place like Manningham with crime rates the lowest in the Eastern Region of Melbourne, and the second lowest in the whole Metropolitan region.”

Forum speakers included crime prevention officers from Victoria Police, Manningham Council officers, representatives of Manningham Neighbourhood Watch, the Manningham Crime Prevention Facebook Group, the Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) and the Australian Federal Police.

Local Area Police Commander, Inspector Paul Breen, said, “Crime fighting and crime prevention can only be achieved when local police and the local community work together, form partnerships, build strong local preventative strategies and, above all, take responsibility for our local safety concerns.” 

Speakers covered topics such as home safety, reporting a crime, emergency management, online and social media safety, the impact of alcohol and drugs, and crime prevention programs.