Since our last update, members of the BCNA and the Port Melbourne Road Safety Group (PMRSG) have met Inspector Helen Chugg, the officer in charge of the Port Phillip Police Service Area. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss current and longer-term measures to deter hoon behaviour such as those that we have advocated to the Hon Ben Carroll MP. They include the greater use of mobile speed cameras to respond to changing hoon venues, the introduction of acoustic cameras, and the strengthening of laws and penalties for some offences.
Unfortunately, the City of Port Phillip (CoPP) was unsuccessful in obtaining a grant from the Victorian Government to purchase of a mobile CCTV unit like the one used last summer at Station Pier. The unit shown below was borrowed from the City of Stonnington. The BCNA has asked Gateway Ward Councillors to support Council purchasing a mobile CCTV unit for use across the municipality.
Inspector Chugg agreed to meet the BCNA and PMRSG later this year to further discuss anti hoon measures and the program for Beacon Cove over the summer months. Inspector Chugg re-iterated the importance of reporting hoon behaviour as explained earlier. If it is not reported, police do not know about it.