By Lauren Henry

Police are encouraging residents to fill out the Victoria Police Community Sentiment Survey, open until the end of May.

The third annual survey supports the police’s commitment to neighbourhood policing, and asks people to tell police about their key safety concerns, how they would like to interact with police and where the police could focus their efforts to prevent and deter crime.

It follows neighbourhood policing forums in Horsham and Ararat last month.

Horsham Police Station Commander Senior Sergeant Eddie Malpas said the survey was quick, anonymous and for people of all backgrounds who lived, worked and socialised in Victoria.

“Survey responses help us identify the issues our communities care most about, and help us develop local ways to tackle them,” Sen Sgt Malpas said.  

“This includes working with partners on local safety plans to understand and address the key drivers of local crime and safety concerns.”

Sen Sgt Malpas said the survey asked about perceptions of safety including top safety concerns.

“It covers safety in public places, drugs and alcohol, family violence, sexual harassment or sexual offending, hate-motivated crime, road safety, cybercrime, serious and organised crime, and safety of property,” he said.

“Safety in a range of settings during the day and night – shopping centres, public car parks, public transport, public parks and spaces, religious venues, at home, streets and footpaths.”

The survey also asks for ideas to improve safety; comfort in approaching police; contact with police in the past 12 months – asking for a rating from one to five; engagement preferences with police outside of an emergency; and optional demographic questions.

“We want to hear from Victorians of all backgrounds,” Sen Sgt Malpas said.

“We encourage our partners across community, government and business to share the survey with their diverse networks.  

“You can complete the survey more than once on the same device, so we encourage families, households and groups to participate.”

Police will share a summary of key findings on the Engage Victoria website, and local summaries will be shared on the police Eyewatch Facebook pages from August.

The survey is available at the Engage Victoria website engage.vic.gov.au/vicpol-2024.

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