As newly appointed Police Commissioner Mike Bush begins his tenure, he inherits a broken police system left reeling after ten years of Labor mismanagement, budget cuts and political interference.
Under the Allan Labor Government, public confidence in Victoria Police has plummeted to just 55 per cent, an offence is committed every 50 seconds, and there are more than 2,000 officers missing from the frontline.
Even as crime continues to spiral, Labor has cut nearly $50 million from the police budget and overseen four police chiefs in as many months.
Leader of the Opposition, Brad Battin, said the Allan Labor Government had lost control of law and order in Victoria.
"Commissioner Bush is stepping into one of the toughest jobs in the country, and I wish him the very best as he begins the task of restoring order to a force under siege," Mr Battin said.
"Victoria's police officers are some of the most dedicated in the world - but under Labor, they've been left unsupported, under-resourced, and asked to do more with less."
"This is what happens when a government is more interested in media management than frontline enforcement - Victorians are being failed, and community safety is suffering."
"Commissioner Bush must have the courage to speak truth to power - and this weak Premier must finally start listening."
Shadow Minister for Police, David Southwick, said the new Commissioner would need to confront ten urgent priorities caused by Labor's decade of failure:
- Soaring crime rates - total offences up 36 per cent over the past ten years
- Youth crime explosion - youth offences up 42 per cent over the past ten years
- 1,100 police vacancies - Victoria Police must be brought back to full strength, not in five years as forecast
- Plummeting public confidence - just 55 per cent of Victorians express confidence in Victoria Police
- Community policing collapse - crime must be prevented, not just responded to
- Unsolved crimes piling up - 46.37 per cent of offences remain unsolved
- Organised crime running riot - tobacco syndicates and bikie gangs are thriving
- Weak protest policing - effective move-on powers must be restored
- 43 police stations understaffed or closed - boots must be put back on the ground
- Restore independence - the Commissioner must give frank and fearless advice, not political spin
"These ten priorities are exactly what Victorians expect any government to fix - it's time to take control of crime and restore public confidence," Mr Southwick said.
"The new Police Commissioner must do one thing above all else - provide honest, fearless advice to this unresponsive and weak Government."
"Commissioner Bush has our full support in doing what Labor won't - standing up for frontline police and making Victorians safer."
