New Victoria Police employee numbers by location data has confirmed 15,601.75 FTE officers as of December 2025, down from 15,969.45 in September 2023 - the same month Jacinta Allan became Premier.
Over this same period, independent Crime Statistics Agency data has confirmed the annual number of offences recorded has risen from 510,140 to 640,860, an increase of more than 25 per cent. Nearly half of this total number of offences - 294,639 - remain unsolved.
Following this latest reduction, the number of Victoria Police officers is now at its lowest level since September 2019 as 41 police stations across the state are closed or operating on reduced hours due to police shortages.
In May 2025, the Allan Labor Government reduced funding by almost $50 million to Victoria Police as net debt continues to grow by $1.7 million an hour and is expected to reach a record $192.6 billion by 2028-29.
Leader of the Opposition, Jess Wilson, said: "Under Premier Jacinta Allan, crime is up and police are down.
"With fewer cops on the beat, dozens of stations operating on reduced hours and a $50 million reduction in Victoria Police's budget, Labor's crime crisis is only set to worsen.
"Despite criminal offending being at an all-time high, Victoria has fewer police now than six years ago - Labor's priorities are all wrong.
"Restoring community safety is a top priority for my team. Only a Liberal and Nationals Government I lead will end Labor's crime crisis by investing in crime prevention and ensuring consequences match community expectations."
Shadow Minister for Police and Corrections, Brad Battin, said: "Fewer police means more offending, less safe communities and a crime crisis that will only worsen.
"Labor's mismanagement and disregard for Victoria Police is resulting in the number of officers declining just as we need them the most.
"Labor cannot manage money, cannot keep communities safe and Victorians are paying the price."
