A brand new initiative arrange in a single Australian state goals to offer folks shopping for and promoting items in individual, by way of transactions organized on-line, really feel safer.
On-line marketplaces the place people record second hand objects on the market are utilized by tens of millions of Australians.
In recent times, customers of the platforms, together with Fb Market haven’t solely needed to however there have additionally been some incidents of potential .
Change zones, the place patrons and sellers can alternate objects bought on-line, have been established outdoors 24-hour police stations throughout Victoria.
The 35 websites throughout regional and metropolitan areas are designed to offer folks with a safer various than assembly unknown folks at areas reminiscent of their houses, parks, or carparks.
The designated alternate zones are anticipated to be clearly marked, properly lit and lined by CCTV.
Victoria Police, is behind the Safer Change Websites initiative that follows what it has described as a “profitable trial” of such a restricted variety of websites since mid 2022.
Officers on the stations the place the trials befell mentioned they noticed folks exchanging objects regularly and through a six-month analysis interval, recorded a lower in thefts and robberies within the space stemming from on-line gross sales.
Victoria Police observed a rise in robberies, thefts and assaults linked to on-line buying and selling, which peaked in 2020 earlier than COVID lockdowns, with smartphones the commonest excessive worth merchandise stolen in such incidents.
Change zones are in operation in locations world wide together with the US as on-line marketplaces proceed to realize in recognition.
Commander Tim Tully mentioned whereas “the general variety of assaults, thefts and robberies related to on-line exchanges is low, we don’t need to see any happen.”
“With the recognition of shopping for and promoting objects through on-line marketplaces persevering with to develop, this initiative is all about police getting on the entrance foot to make sure an rising crime theme doesn’t turn into an embedded development.
“Whereas these websites are a safer various than assembly somebody at your house or in a dimly lit space with no CCTV, we nonetheless encourage folks to think about the dangers of assembly an individual they’ve by no means met earlier than.
“Police counsel assembly throughout daytime if potential and bringing somebody with you to the alternate.”
