People in Geelong will see more police on the streets, with an 18 new police officers already rolled out to local police stations this year, following record investment from the Andrews Labor Government to deliver the biggest boost to police resources in Victoria Police’s history.
Minister for Police and Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville met with seven of these new recruits this week and welcomed the new team who will service communities in Greater Geelong.
These police officers are part of the Labor Government’s 3,135 new police which are being deployed to communities across Victoria.
Each year, allocations for communities across the state are determined by Victoria Police’s Staffing Allocation Model, which examines key data to ensure local communities have the police resources they need.
The model was developed by Victoria Police in consultation with the Police Association and is endorsed by the Labor Government.
The Labor Government’s continued investment in Victoria Police is already starting to make a difference, with the crime rate in Greater Geelong falling 7.1 per cent in the last year, according to the latest independent statistics.
The new police officers will be out in the community protecting residents and helping to reduce crime.
The Labor Government’s Community Safety Statement, is underpinned by a record $2 billion investment that is giving police the resources, powers and laws it needs to keep Victoria safe.
This stands in stark contrast to the former Liberal Government, who failed to invest in one single additional officer, cut $100 million from the Victoria Police budget and slashed 350 Victoria Police staff.
There are more police working in Geelong than ever before – there are 53 FTE new police funded since the Labor Government was elected and these have been allocated to the Geelong, Bellarine and the Surf Coast.
These new police have already begun to be delivered to communities and all will be in place by April 2019.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police and Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville
“I’d like to welcome the new police officers who have just started and their valuable work serving the people of Geelong.”
“This is another major community safety boost for Geelong - our community can expect to see more police on the street, more proactive patrols and even stronger enforcement over the next 12 months.”
“The safety of people in Geelong is a key priority for me. That’s why I’m proud our Government has listened to police to give them everything they need – the resources, the technology and the powers – to keep our community safe.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020