A Burnside Heights family has left its home after a terrifying invasion last year.
Speaking about their ordeal, Richa Walia said the family lived in fear.
She said they had been unable to sleep since the incident and had decided to move house for a fresh start.
“We felt so vulnerable,” Ms Waila said. “We had no power over these powerful people. And the fact that help doesn’t arrive straight away when you need it is the scariest part.”
Ms Walia and her family were asleep when four men, armed with metal poles and baseball bats, broke into their house and threatened them while demanding they hand over the keys to their car.
Ms Walia said the family waited 35 minutes for police to attend the scene.
She and her family met with Opposition Leader Matthew Guy last week to speak about the Coalition’s plans for a Victims Support Rapid Response Service if elected.
The service, which will be operated by the justice department, will co-ordinate on-call volunteer counsellors, multi-faith chaplains and psychologists to provide immediate help to victims.
Volunteers will receive an SMS, or app, alert notifying them of an incident that has occurred in the area and be called out to provide support to victims.
“I want to take the pressure off our first responders and provide a greater, quicker level of support to people who have been impacted,” Mr Guy said.
“So many families are sick to death of the excuses of this government as to why they can’t get tough on crime …
“Which is why I’ve got a greater focus on victims, not on the criminals, and that’s the fundamental reform that is needed in Victoria today.”
