Frontline police officers will be safer and more secure as a fleet of 290 new vehicles are rolled-out over the next two years across the state.
Minister for Police Lisa Neville today examined the first new divisional van which will hit the road in Melbourne’s west from February to support the biggest ever investment in frontline police members coming online.
Almost 240 new police will be deployed across the North-West Metro region in the coming months to Wyndham, Maribyrnong, Whittlesea and Melton as part of the first 300 of the Andrews Labor Government’s 3,135 new police.
The new fleet of the divisional vans includes 250 two-door vans which will provide frontline police officers with improved ground clearance and a better vantage point when they are patrolling the streets.
The vehicles will also have added storage for equipment and additional security features including a 360-degree camera in the custody compartment.
Existing security and safety features will also be carried over into the new vehicle including video monitoring and recording of detainees and two-way communication with detainees in the rear pod.
An additional 40 four-wheel drive vans, fitted with winches and bull bars, will be deployed to regional areas from mid-2018 to provide off-road driving capability.
Rigorous performance, handling and testing has been carried out and the vehicles have a maximum five-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program rating, with safety features including airbags, stability control and ABS brakes.
The government is delivering a $2 billion suite of measures through the historic Community Safety Statement to ensure Victoria Police has everything it needs to protect the Victorian community.
Last year 772 police recruits graduated from the Victoria Police Academy and it continues to run at capacity to deliver the government’s 3,135 new police over five years, on top of attrition.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Lisa Neville
“The new divisional vans will ensure our police officers are kept safe on the road while they’re patrolling and protecting the Victorian community.”
“Expect to see bigger and more secure divisional vans hit the streets – set to support the hundreds of new police being rolled-out across the state.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020