PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
30 April 2025

Community Policing in Action:

 NHW Bayside Hosts First “Coffee with the Cops” in Highett

Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) Bayside held its inaugural “Coffee with the Cops” event this morning at the Highett RSL, drawing strong attendance from local residents, community leaders, and Victoria Police officers for a dynamic session on crime activities, prevention, and community engagement.

The session, chaired by NHW Bayside President Philip Lovel, marked a significant step in strengthening ties between residents and local police, while highlighting the ongoing work of NHW Bayside across the eight Bayside suburbs.

“This isn’t about media or grandstanding — this is a community-focused dialogue with our local police,” said Mr. Lovel. “Our goal is simple: safer streets, stronger connections, and more support for residents through proactive policing and partnerships.”

“Also, we must help by protecting ourselves, the police can’t be everywhere”.

Attendees included Ward Councillors Cr Hanna El Mouallem Mayor of Bayside, Cr Andrew Hockley, Cr Kylie McIntosh, and Cr Debbie Taylor-Haynes (Deputy Mayor), along with Senior Sergeant Alex Jackson and members of the Proactive Policing Unit from Moorabbin Police Headquarters. Various officers provided details on their day-to-day activities. Leading Senior Constable Chris Dawson spoke of the issues he encounters when visiting “victims of crime” and suggesting it was really back to basics, protect yourselves, ensure you give the criminals no easy opportunity to commit a crime!

Phil Lovel said we were also privileged to have Detective Senior Sergeant Kurt Woods, from the Bayside Sexual Offences Office who provided some detailed information on his activities in and around Bayside.

Comments were made about current “retail” crime, communicating with many different groups in the community, Graffiti removal success in Bayside, replacement of NHW Street signs, the Bayside Litter Roads Patrol Group, what to do if you have an issue with safety-call Triple (000), the use of mobile patrols, Police working with PSO’s, Operation Trinity, the police actions from the non-urgent information line 131444 and Crime Stoppers.

The Mayor, Cr Hanna El Mouallem provided some details about crime in Brighton, what the Bayside Council is doing about it and the opportunities which has produced a meeting with the police minister, The Hon. Anthony Carbines.

 A highlight of the event was the table rotation format, giving every attendee direct access to different officers in small-group discussions.

Senior Sergeant Alex Jackson (soon to be based at Bayside police station) spoke of the value of community-led information sharing: “The more we know, the better we can serve. Events like these give us that essential grassroots feedback we need to stay ahead of crime trends.”

Phil Lovel provided some up-to-date details of what has happened since the new “bail laws” were tightened in March 2025. These were as of 14^th April 2025.

• New crime data revealed from the Department of Justice and Community Safety reports, show that the number of youths who have been refused bail after committing major offences has doubled over the past year.
• Almost four times as many teens accused of serious crimes are being refused bail since the State government tightened Victoria’s bail laws. Research has found that 17 accused young criminals under the age of 18 have been remanded since the new reforms came into effect in March 2025 which has made it much tougher for “repeat” offenders to be bailed.
• As of April 14^th, 2025, there were 96 young people on remand, up from 55 April 2024.
• In total ,46 youth have been remanded since the reforms kicked in, and 346 more youths have been remanded on top of the 2146 people who were behind bars this time last year.
• In another long-awaited reform aimed at providing safer community outcomes-especially when it relates to the accused who have shown a lack of court order compliance-from April 24^th, 2025, the Authorities are empowered to “clamp” a select number of higher-risk young offenders with electronic bracelets.
• Up to 50 serious youth offenders at a time -aged 14 to 18 will be ordered to wear GPS devices around the clock, including while attending government schools, as part of the Victorian governments first trial. Under these trials, alleged offenders who stray outside of their nominated address after curfew or enter an exclusion zone or tamper with the bracelet will set off an alert.
• This innovative technology will help track movement restrictions, CBD bans and other conditions to better monitor and motivate juvenile offenders to comply with their bail requirements. The next test will be for the courts to reactivate custodial orders if those movement conditions are breached.
• NHW Bayside supports the proposition that rehabilitation should be available as a central goal for those young offenders who have shown a willingness to embrace a “second chance.” But we say violent and repeat offenders must expect to face penalties to protect the community and discourage further crime In a Q & A session many residents commented on their own situations with crime.

Leading Senior Constable Tania Stacey provided an excellent summary of how the police work with young offenders on a daily basis. The resources needed to work on each individual young criminal and to assist their families is significant.

The event concluded with a call for volunteers and new members, especially in East Brighton, Brighton, Hampton East, and Highett, to help expand NHW Bayside’s reach.

For more information or to get involved, contact NHW Bayside or visit your local community centre.

Media Contact
Philip Lovel AM
President, NHW Bayside
0421344442 or email phillovel@bigpond.com