Crime statistics reveal resourcing holes

The Victoria Police Force today released the latest crime statistics. We welcome the reduction in various levels of serious crime, most of which is due to the diligence and hard work of our members.

However, the crime figures also show that a number of crimes are on the rise, including a 13.9 per cent increase in robbery in the last year and a 32 per cent increase in assault in the last seven years.

 These increases reveal the effects of critical under-resourcing and strengthen our call for a return to a visible and proactive policing presence on our streets.

The State Opposition’s early release of the crime statistics last month gave us a rare insight into how the crime figures look before they are promulgated by the Victoria Police Force. To our members who work in severely under-resourced conditions everyday, the raw crime figures, which revealed a growing tide of violence and crime on our streets, came as no surprise.

Looking at the official figures released by the Victoria Police Force today, it is clear that the statistics are significantly different and tell a more palatable story about crime in Victoria.

No matter how the Victoria Police Force and the State Government choose to present these figures, one simple fact remains: the Brumby Government spends less on policing that any other state in the country. This means that because inadequate levels of resourcing, members continue to be stretched beyond their limit.

Not only can this impact upon the safety of the community, but also upon the health and wellbeing of members.

The Victoria Police Force and the State Government need to commit to a fail-safe strategy for reducing crime – providing more police on our streets.

Greg Davies

Legal Manager