Warrnambool police Sergeant Callum McKinnon said they were updating the station’s after hours contact register and it had been a couple of years since new information was added.

He said ideally the contact details would be updated annually because businesses regularly closed and new ones opened.

“Half the businesses aren’t on (the list) or have stopped trading years ago,” Sergeant McKinnon said. 

“This register is maintained to ensure the relevant responsible person can be contacted after hours in the unfortunate event of an incident occurring at their premises,” he said. 

After hours contact forms will be sent to Warrnambool businesses in the coming weeks The form asks for names and details of up to three contacts and the security monitoring company the business uses.

Sergeant McKinnon said if a business window was broken after hours and police didn’t have contact information, officers couldn’t leave the store until a shutter service, such as a glazier, attended to repair the damage. 

“If we can contact the owner they can take ownership and contact their own shutter service,” Sergeant McKinnon said. 

He said police did not know which security firm businesses used and if alarms were activated after hours police couldn’t do anything to turn them off and the noise could disturb neighbouring properties.

He said having the owner/operator attend also freed up police resources as it could be hours between an incident occurring and the time taken to conduct repairs.

To have your details added to the register email callum.mckinnon@police.vic.gov.au or contact the Warrnambool police station for a form.