THE FEELING AT THE MOMENT IS OF ANGER, FRUSTRATION AND ALSO A DEEP-SEATED FEAR..! – MELBOURNE MAYOR DEMANDS URGENT ACTION ON YOUTH CRIME AS SUNSHINE COMMUNITY REELS FROM THE D3ATH OF BELOVED SHOPKEEPER VAN VIET TRUONG.

Mayor demands action on youth crime as community reels from death of Melbourne shopkeeper

‘The feeling at the moment is of anger, frustration and also a deep-seated fear.’

Melbourne business owners demand action after grocer’s death

A Melbourne mayor has issued an urgent call for more police and youth crime prevention programs following the death of a beloved grocery shop owner.

Hundreds of residents and business owners rallied in Melbourne’s west following the death of 60-year-old Van Viet Truong, who was allegedly violently assaulted while rushing to the aid of another person in Sunshine, Melbourne.

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A 15-year-old boy is behind bars accused of manslaughter, while three others charged with assault were granted bail, including one aged just 12.

Brimbank Mayor Virginia Tachos told Sunrise on Monday the tragedy has intensified concerns about crime across the rapidly growing region and called on the Victorian Government to urgently boost resources.

“The feeling at the moment is of anger, frustration and also a deep-seated fear of the crime that has been escalating in our community, but also in the west at the moment,” she said.

Tachos said Brimbank’s police presence had reduced by 25 officers, while crime in the area had increased by roughly 9 per cent.

“While overall Victoria crime might be down in our area and in the west, where the growth corridor is and where the population is growing, instead of getting more police, we are actually getting reduced police presence,” she said.

The mayor is calling for greater police visibility and patrols, along with an increased protective services presence across the community, amid reports from traders and residents of poor police responsiveness and a lack of officers on the streets.

“We have got a very scared community here that is seeking to feel a lot safer,” she said.

But Tachos warned increasing police numbers alone would only provide a superficial solution, arguing greater investment was also needed in programs aimed at preventing young people from getting involved with crime.

She is pushing for prevention programs targeting young people around crime hotspots and railway stations, similar to the Community Connector Program operating in Dandenong and Frankston.

The push comes after five councils across Melbourne’s west banded together last week to demand more resources for the growing region.

Tachos said she had met with the Premier Ben Carroll last week and said while the state government had indicated it was committed to improving resources, residents and businesses were yet to see the results they were demanding.