Another 19 police officers and 21 Police Custody Officers (PCOs) will join the force from next week as Victoria Police and the Andrews Labor Government continue to deliver the resources needed to keep the community safe.
Visiting the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley today, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Ben Carroll congratulated PCO Squad 2 on their graduation.
The new PCOs will perform important duties in police station cells to support police – freeing up more sworn officers to get back on the beat.
The custody officers will start work next week at 12 stations across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
The Labor Government’s $148 million custody officer program is putting more police back on frontline duties – with PCOs having worked more than 18,000 shifts since January.
There are now nearly 250 custody officers working at 22 of the state’s busiest police stations.
Another 19 police officers from Police Squad 26 also graduated today after completing an intensive course to transition from Protective Services Officers to police officers.
The new officers will be initially deployed to duties including booze and drug buses and at regional stations, before they are allocated to a permanent station in the coming months.
The Government recently announced $26.2 million to fast-track the 406 new police announced in the Victorian Budget 2016/17 to put the Academy at capacity.
Over the next 12 months, 1000 police, Protective Services Officers and custody officers will be in training.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Lisa Neville
“Custody officers are making a huge difference in our local communities, giving police the extra support and resources needed to get back into the community and fight crime.”
“We will continue to boost police resources, fast-tracking recruitment of 406 new police, with the first officers on the beat early next year.”
Quote attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Ben Carroll
“Across Victoria, we’re seeing the positive impact custody officers are having on police – with thousands of shifts given back to frontline officers so they can fight crime.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020