- Published:
- Saturday 16 April 2016
More frontline police, expanded anti-gang and gun crime squads, and the latest equipment and technology will allow Victoria Police to keep cracking down on serious crime to keep our community safe.
The Andrews Labor Government today announced a $596 million Public Safety Package delivering on our promise to give police the necessary resources to respond to gang-related crime, gun crime, terrorist threats, and family violence.
Victoria Police will soon have an extra 406 sworn police and 52 support personnel, bringing the total number of new police personnel funded by the Labor Government since it came to office to 1152.
The 2016-17 Victorian Budget includes 300 frontline police who will be deployed across Victoria, responding to local crime issues and demand for police in growth areas. The full deployment of 400 Police Custody Officers (PCOs), funded in last year’s Budget will also be fast tracked by six months to the end of 2017, further freeing up frontline resources.
A further 106 specialist police officers and 52 support personnel will be recruited, including:
- 30 new officers and two support personnel for the anti-gang and illicit trafficking teams
- 40 new Public Order Response Team (PORT) officers and four support personnel to increase capacity to rapidly respond to incidents involving hostile crowds
- 20 new Special Operations Group (SOG) officers increasing the capacity of Victoria Police to respond to high risk incidents, including terrorist incidents
- 26 specialist police and support personnel to operate a new 24/7 Victoria Police Monitoring and Assessment Centre. This real time control centre will mean police can monitor and assess information immediately and quickly respond to major incidents
- 24 additional forensic officers and staff for two new forensic hubs that will be set up in regional Victoria to enable police to fast-track investigations into ice and other drugs trafficking
- 10 new fingerprint experts, technicians and support staff to allow police to better identify and target repeat offenders.
The Budget will also fund a major investment in police equipment and technology so that Victoria Police remain at the cutting edge of fighting crime. This includes:
- A heavy armoured vehicle and three new bulletproof vehicles for Victoria Police’s specialist units
- New bomb robots, night vision, and camera equipment for specialist units, as well as the first stage of developing a new special operations training facility
- New information systems, mobile technology and body-worn cameras to give frontline police new tools to respond to crime and keep the community safe. These investments will improve responses to family violence incidents and directly address the recommendations made by the Family Violence Royal Commission
- Anti-ballistic vests so frontline police have the equipment they need to stay safe.
A $19 million commitment to the Community Crime Prevention program will help target the root causes of crime.
The government will also deliver $37 million to replace or refurbish 22 regional and rural police stations and 10 police residences, to give our police officers in country Victoria the resources they need.
Quotes attributable to Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews
“We promised to deliver everything Victoria Police need to keep Victorians safe and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
“Hundreds more police and new state-of-the-art technology will mean those already on the front line have the support they need.”
Quotes attributable to Acting Police Minister Robin Scott
“The safety of the community is paramount.”
“We are giving police the officers, the equipment, and powers to respond to some of the most serious issues facing our community today including family violence, gun crime and the scourge of ice.”