The Victoria Police Academy will run at capacity to train new police as the Andrews Labor Government brings forward recruitment of additional frontline police.

Minister for Police Lisa Neville said the decision made last month has ramped up the Academy’s recruitment of extra police to reflect the need for more officers in Victoria’s growth communities.

The Government has provided $26.2 million to expedite the 406 new police announced in the Victorian Budget 2016/17, following detailed discussions with Chief Commissioner of Police Graham Ashton.

This means these additional police officers will all be sworn in by the end of June 2017, rather than June 2018. The first of the additional police officers will start hitting the beat in early 2017.

These new police are over and above the hundreds of police trained over the course of the year to cover attrition.

The Government continues to give Victoria Police the resources and powers it needs to fight crime – funding an additional 406 police, new technology and specialist equipment, and introducing new laws to target offenders who commit home invasions and carjackings.

The Police Custody Officer program roll-out has seen 227 custody officers deployed to 22 stations. Across Victoria, they have worked more than 11,000 shifts to free up police time.

The Victoria Police Academy will be a hive of activity over the next 12 months as 1000 new police, Protective Services Officers and Police Custody Officers are recruited and trained.

Victoria Police continues to work on a new deployment model for police which will examine an area’s crime trends and socio-economic factors to best inform resourcing decisions.

The deployment model is yet to be finalised but the deployment of the additional police officers will cover growth corridors and other areas of high need.

Minister for Police:

“We aren’t wasting a second in making sure Victoria Police has the resources it needs to cope with growing demand for police across the state.”

“This decision to bring forward recruitment of 406 additional officers will see the Victoria Police Academy running at capacity.”

“We will continue to give the Chief Commissioner the resources and the powers he needs to fight crime and keep Victorians safe.”