Victoria’s new Police Custody Officers (PCOs) are helping free up police resources across Melbourne, with a new team deployed in Broadmeadows.
Visiting Broadmeadows Police Station today, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Ben Carroll said the custody officers would proudly serve the community while also helping sworn police return to the front line.
Mr Carroll recently attended the graduation of the second squad of PCOs at the Victoria Police Academy.
Broadmeadows is one of the busiest police stations in Victoria, located close to the local Magistrates’ Court and Justice Service Centre.
Custody officers have already been deployed to Sunshine, Dandenong, Heidelberg, Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong police stations.
The Andrews Labor Government has invested $148.6 million to recruit, train and deploy 400 custody officers to 22 police stations over the next three years.
Their duties include processing and supervising detained people, managing visitors to police cells, facilitating access to health services and other administrative duties to support police.
Quotes attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Ben Carroll
“The Andrews Labor Government values the work of our police and has significantly increased police resources, funding almost 700 additional police personnel since November 2014.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Yuroke Ros Spence
“Having more sworn officers out in the community rather than managing prisoners will support public safety in Melbourne’s north west.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Broadmeadows Frank McGuire
"The new custody officers will get more police on the front line and free them up to be of greater benefit to community safety, so I welcome this initiative."
Reviewed 19 August 2020