HOBSONS Bay police have joined the social networking world and hope that cyber space will help bridge the gap between police and the community.


They have launched an official facebook page ‘Eyewatch Hobsons Bay’ – the first Police Service Area (PSA) in Victoria to take the social networking plunge.


Inspector Bill Mathers admitted he was initially reluctant to jump on the facebook bandwagon but saw it’s potential.


“We’ve seen what the other states are doing and the beauty of it, it allows local police to communicate with local communities and the messaging is instant,” he said.


“Once we get our processes in place we’ll be putting up photographs of suspects – it means people can have access to those photographs 24-hours a day.


“It gives us a great opportunity to get real time information out to the community and get feedback from the community.


“We’re always wanting to hear what the community thinks and this gives us a way of interacting that we haven’t had in the past.


“Traditionally there are groups out there that we don’t communicate well with.


“For instance I’d like to set up links to the Islamic Mosque or some of our ethnic communities so they can read messages and then they can translate them.”


Insp Mathers said the site had real possibilities for the community but warned offensive language and comments would be removed.


He added he was excited to be the first PSA to be using the technology but admitted it was also a bit scary.


“We still have some reservations about using it but we know there is a huge potential for policing to connect with the local community.”


“Prior to having the site up, I had not been on facebook so for me it’s a new world.


“It’s a trial at the moment so we’re still experimenting.


“I would encourage residents to get on it and ‘like’ it.”