Victoria Police has now scrapped minimum staffing requirements for stations across the state in a desperate bid to get more officers on the beat. This major change comes amid a critical workforce shortage that is crippling our frontline.
Leaked documents reveal that Labor's police budget cuts could lead to further reductions in the operation hours of stations and even more station closures across Victoria.
The decision-making power to close police stations has now been delegated from the Chief Commissioner to local area managers allowing closures to occur more frequently due to staff shortages.
Already, 43 police stations are reportedly closed or operate on reduced hours. Victoria Police has been forced to suspend minimum staffing requirements because there simply aren't enough officers to keep stations open. Labor's continued cuts will only make this worse, putting local communities and victims at greater risk.
Under Labor, Victoria is now 2,000 police officers short and despite a recruitment drive and a promise to deliver 500 more police, in the last five years full time operational roles fell by two per cent.
Shadow Minister for Police David Southwick said: "Under Labor, Victoria Police has been forced into crisis management instead of crime prevention. Frontline numbers have dropped while violent incidents and crime continues to rise.
"Victims deserve to know that when they walk up to a police station, the lights will be on and the doors will be open. Instead, it's now a lucky dip whether you'll find a station staffed at all.
"Labor has known for years we have a police recruitment problem. They promised 500 extra officers back in 2022, yet today we've got fewer police and more crime.
"Victoria is facing record crime rates, yet almost half of reported offences go unsolved. Closing police stations will only make it harder for victims to report crime and for police to respond when it matters most."
