Full-time police numbers across the state have increased by less than two per cent in as many years, despite a rising crime rate.
There were 13,188 full-time officers in June, 2016 – 155 more than the previous year and 232 more than June 2014 – Victoria Police’s recent annual report reveals.
This goes nowhere near keeping up with population growth, police association secretary Ron Iddles said, especially in Melton, where crime has increased by 30 per cent since June 2014. There are 84 frontline police in Melton, compared with 76 in June 2014.
“For more than two years, the police association has been calling for a substantial increase in frontline police numbers to bring our crime rate under control, and to keep pace with Victoria’s booming population,” Mr Iddles said. “Nowhere more does this ring true than it does in Melton.”
The number of police injured across the state in the past financial year was up 10 per cent compared with the year before, while the number of shifts lost due to injury skyrocketed by 40 per cent, the annual report reveals. But it’s not only police safety that’s being compromised, Mr Iddles said.
“The police to population ratio in Melton is around half the state average. It is no wonder that the visible policing presence the Melton community requires and deserves isn’t forthcoming,” he said.
Mr Iddles praised the state government for expediting 406 extra police recruits by 12 months, including 300 frontline police. It has also committed to deploying many frontline officers to growth areas, such as Melton.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said the government is working with Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton to give police the resources, technology and equipment they need to keep communities safe.
“It’s very clear that police numbers are up under this government, and they will continue to grow,” Ms Neville said.
But opposition policing spokesman Edward O’Donohue slammed the two per cent increase in full-time police since 2014, saying Victoria Police did not have the resources to respond to the “crime tsunami” confronting the state.
