The number of police officers at Melton is well below the state average, with the Police Association of Victoria “genuinely concerned” about community safety.
Association secretary Ron Iddles said Melton has 76 first-response officers, but at least 55 more are needed to be on par with the state average.
“Melton does not have anywhere near enough first-response police officers to adequately combat the scourge of drug-related crime, family violence and street assaults,” Mr Iddles said.
“An insufficient number of first-response officers means slower response times and fewer proactive police patrols.
“The numbers tell the story. First-response policing in Melton is under-resourced and this is denying its residents and business the optimal policing service they expect and deserve.”
Mr Iddles said he was also concerned for current officers at Melton, who struggle to keep up with an “onerous” workload.
EDWARD O’DONOHUE
He said a further 81 officers would be needed over the next five years to keep up with population growth.
Speaking in State Parliament last month, Opposition policing and community safety spokesman Edward O’Donohue slammed the Labor government for “wasting” money on scrapping the East-West Link, commissioning a new logo and “other priorities that are a much lower priority than community safety”.
Mr O’Donohue raised the challenges Victoria Police face dealing with a growing population, ice and other drugs, and domestic violence.
“When you boil it down [Victoria Police’s submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence] and look at its number one recommendation … it is very simple,” Mr O’Donohue said. “Recommendation one: In order to tend to the ever-growing community need with respect to family violence, a significant increase in frontline numbers is required as a matter of urgency.”
The Police Association of Victoria estimates at least 80 new police officers are needed in Melton, while almost 160 new members should be deployed to Wyndham.
Mr O’Donohue said many senior police had briefed him about the challenges confronting police officers, including dealing with “deep and challenging” domestic violence cases and the “erratic, violence and unpredictable responses” of ice users.
“The challenges for members of the force appear to be growing and the demands are ever more complex,” he said. “It’s the job of Parliament and the job of government to respond with the resources that the chief commissioner of Victoria Police needs.”
