A wintery day was made more bearable last week when volunteers from Neighbourhood Watch Latrobe City and officers from Morwell police station teamed up to offer a free barbecue.
More than 200 sausages were consumed during the three-hour event which attracted the attention of passers by and those attending the Latrobe Valley court precinct.
Latrobe Proactive Policing Unit Sergeant Ben McWilliam said it was one of several recent events to engage the community in an effort to lower crime rates across the region.
“The Family Violence Court sits in Morwell on a Tuesday so we get a lot of people in the area, both victims and offenders, and it was a great opportunity to do some community liaison,” Sergeant McWilliam said.
“The essential rule of thumb is that communities that are engaged [with police] record lower crime rates which subsequently makes our community a safer place due to a reduction in crime.
“There’s also people who are doing it a bit tough and they appreciated getting a free snag while at the same time we helped raise donations for Neighbourhood Watch from those who could afford to chip in.”
Sergeant McWilliam said they started with about 140 sausages but were required to visit the butcher later in the afternoon due to the success of the barbecue.
Neighbourhood Watch Latrobe City president Cindy Shanahan said the feedback was pleasing.
“We wanted to do something for the community and we discussed the opportunity to do it outside the police station in Morwell,” Ms Shanahan said.
“We decided it would be a great incentive to get out in the community and encourage people to engage with volunteers and their local police.”
People interested in volunteering for Neighbourhood Watch Latrobe City can visit the organisation’s Facebook page or phone the Proactive Policing Unit at Morwell Police Station on 5131 5000.
