Strong Force: Annual Report Confirms Police Numbers Up

The Andrews Labor Government’s record investment in police has seen a huge increase in police numbers over the last two years, with hundreds of new sworn officers joining the force.

The Victoria Police Annual Report 2015/16 tabled today shows Victoria had 13,188 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) sworn police in June 2016 – 155 more officers than the previous year and 232 more police officers since 30 June 2014.

Since 2014, the Labor Government has funded 1156 police personnel – made up of 530 sworn officers, 400 Police Custody Officers (PCOs), 109 Protective Services Officers (PSOs) and 117 specialist staff including intelligence analysts and forensic officers.

The recruitment of the 406 new police funded in this year’s Victorian Budget 2016/17 has been fast-tracked to get them into the community and fighting crime sooner.

The first new officers will hit the beat in early 2017.

The Victoria Police Academy will be running at capacity over the next 12 months, with 1000 police, PCOs and PSOs in training.

Victoria Police has marked a number of milestones and reforms to ensure it remains at the cutting edge of crime fighting. These include:

  • The complete rollout of PSOs, with officers now on patrol at 215 train stations from 6pm to last train every night
  • More than 200 new custody officers deployed to free up police time and get more frontline officers back on the beat
  • A dedicated Counter Terrorism Command to ensure we manage and respond to the ongoing risk of terrorism
  • Establishing Operation Cosmas – which has now made 210 arrests – targeting and investigating crimes like home invasions and carjackings. Police continue to make more arrests than ever state-wide.

At the end of September 2016, Victoria had 218 more police officers than when the Government came to power in November 2014.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Lisa Neville

“It’s very clear that police numbers are up under this Government – and they will continue to grow.”

“We have worked hand-in-hand with the Chief Commissioner to give our police the resources, the technology, and the equipment they need to keep our communities safe.”

“We are running the Victoria Police Academy at capacity to ensure every officer funded this year can get out into our communities sooner.”