RESIDENTS throughout the Alpine Shire are invited to have their say at an upcoming Neighbourhood Policing Forum in Cobram to discuss key concerns with local crime.

The Neighbourhood Policing Forum encompassing the Wangaratta police service area will be run by a Victoria Police panel of divisional management and command representation on Thursday, 1 May from 5:30pm-8:30pm at the Cobram Civic Centre.

The forum will explore topics including current crime trends and crime prevention, family violence, young people, road policing and drugs and drug related crime.

Questions will be taken from the audience throughout the event.

Local Area Commander of the Wangaratta police service area, Inspector Ash Mason, said the force was encouraging key community representatives from Moira, Wangaratta and Alpine municipalities to attend and have their say in what matters most to them.

“It’s an opportunity for them to liaise and engage directly with Victoria Police around local community safety matters,” he said.

“It’s a great way for us to better connect with our local communities, it’s not just about what we see as local community safety issues, it’s also about providing the opportunity for local communities to communicate to us as to what they see as local community issues.”

Inspector Mason said the forum would also touch on the results of last year’s community sentiment survey which identified safety of property and possessions, drugs and alcohol and road safety as the key issues for community members.

“The three different LGAs are all impacted to varying degrees with all of those categories,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for people to listen to us present on that data, but also for community representatives and agencies to ask questions of us about those primary themes.

“All of these matters which contribute to community safety matters are not just a Victoria Police issue, these are whole of community issues.

“It requires an approach from everyone to work together to overcome and mitigate these community safety issues and maintain community safety.”

To attend, please register by sending your details to ED4-DIVISIONAL-OFFIC@police.vic.gov.au

Seats must be reserved by searching for the neighbourhood policing forums on the Eventbrite website and entry is free.