- Published:
- Tuesday 14 July 2015
Some of Victoria’s elite crime fighters have made the new $230 million Victoria Police complex in Spencer St their HQ.
The homicide squad, armed crime squad and the cold case unit are among the 1500 police who have moved into the centre.
The centre, which was funded by the previous Labor Government, also brings together the Melbourne West Police Station with the North West Region, the Crime Investigation Unit and a Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Unit.
The Minister for Police, Wade Noonan, officially opened the complex today.
The Andrews Labor Government delivered a record $2.5 billion Budget for police this year.
This includes $148.6 million to redeploy 400 police officers back to the frontline by introducing custody officers to take over the job of babysitting prisoners in police cells.
The Government has also committed $15 million to build a new police station in Mernda and $4.5 million to help police track down and close clandestine drug labs more quickly by hiring forensic scientists for the Forensic Drug Branch.
To keep our roads safe, the Victorian 2015-16 Budget invests $15 million for 10 new drug and booze buses. The larger fleet will let police test 100,000 people a year for drugs and take more alcohol and drug-affected people off our roads.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Wade Noonan
“More than 300,000 people visit Melbourne’s CBD most Friday and Saturday nights and this station will help ensure people can enjoy a safe night out.’’
“This station will help Victoria Police fight crime and build a sense of community safety.”
“This state-of-the-art police station will be a symbol of community safety for years to come.”