The Andrews Labor Government is delivering 788 new frontline police officers over the next year, boosting general duties and specialist roles across the state and providing an agile and responsive police force for all Victorians.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville and Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent joined graduates at the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley today to announce the latest allocation as part of the Labor Government’s work to support a safer community.

The Labor Government’s record $3 billion investment has seen more than 1,900 of 3,135 new police deployed to communities across the state, and from May this year another 580 police officers will be progressively deployed to stations across Victoria.

An additional 208 officers will go to specialist roles such as family violence, road policing, and state emergency support, and we’re delivering new police to hit the front line out in their communities.

Regional areas will receive a massive boost to resourcing, with 356 of the new police being deployed going to country regions. In total, 675 of the 1,880 police already allocated or deployed since 2017 have gone to country divisions.

The 2020 allocation includes 41 new Crime Command roles to help detect, disrupt and prevent serious crime including homicide, organised, gun and/or gang crime and an additional 13 counter terrorism police to tackle the threat of terrorism within the community.

By April next year, more than 2,700 new police will have been deployed across Victoria since 2014 under the Labor government – a massive investment in community safety.

Victoria Police is deploying new police when and where they are needed most, using the sophisticated Staffing Allocation Model. The model has been developed by Victoria Police in consultation with the Police Association of Victoria and is endorsed by the government.

In the 2020 allocation, police are focusing on providing the service levels needed for a growing and vibrant population and making sure each Victorian community has the resources needed to effectively respond to crime in their local area.

All 788 police will be deployed by April 2021 and will address issues important to Victorians, like family violence, drug crime, youth offending, road safety, high harm offending and counter terrorism.

The government will continue to work closely with Victoria Police to ensure they have the resources, powers and technology they need to keep Victorians safe and prevent harm.