An extra 37 police officers will be on the beat next week to keep people safe as the Andrews Labor Government and Victoria Police work to bolster a police force for the future.
Visiting the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley, Minister for Police Lisa Neville joined the state’s newest crime fighters for their graduation ceremony and thanked them for their dedication to the job.
The graduating police squads 12 and 13 – made up of 21 men and 16 women – have completed Victoria Police’s rigorous 33-week training program at the Academy, which included on-the-job training and placements at police stations.
They will be deployed to stations across Victoria next week.
The Academy will continue to be a hive of activity – with around 1000 new police, Protective Services Officers and Police Custody Officers to be recruited and trained over the next 12 months. Last financial year, 1104 police personnel successfully made their way through training.
The Labor Government is delivering on its promise to give police the resources and powers they need to keep Victorians safe.
The $596 million Public Safety Package announced in the Victorian Budget 2016/17 will fund 406 new police officers, mobile technology and other specialist equipment.
Of the new officers funded, 300 frontline police will be deployed across Victoria, including in Melbourne’s growth corridors, to respond to local crime issues and the increased demand for police.
More than 200 custody officers are already working at 22 of Victoria’s busiest police stations, freeing up frontline police to get back on the beat. The roll-out of custody officers has been fast-tracked by six months, with 400 officers to be deployed by the end of 2017.
New standalone offences to target carjackings and home invasions will be put before Parliament later this year.
Since November 2014, the Labor Government has funded 1156 police personnel to keep Victorians safe.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Lisa Neville
“Congratulations to our newest police officers who will proudly serve the community and fight crime.”
“We stand side-by-side with the hardworking men and women of Victoria Police to ensure they have the resources they need to keep our communities safe.”
“That’s why we’re funding hundreds more frontline police, state-of-the-art mobile technology and working to upgrade or replace police stations state-wide.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020