Sixteen Melton and Caroline Springs police have been removed from frontline duties, despite a recent crime wave and the pleas from residents for more boots on the ground.
Police Association secretary Ron Iddles said when frontline police were seconded from their roles, the “hole” they left behind at their stations remained unfilled.
“It is these police who respond to answer triple-0 emergency calls and provide proactive patrols in the community,” Mr Iddles said.
“The current fixation of Victoria Police with a taskforce policing model … puts the investigation and response to crime before its prevention.
“[This] is creating … a cycle of offending that becomes more difficult to break every day.”
More than 400 people rallied in Caroline Springs earlier this month, demanding extra frontline police.
As reported by Star Weekly, one resident told the rally he once called triple-0 five times, and got no response.
Victoria Police spokesman Ben Radisich said the 16 officers currently on secondment remained within the Melton area. He said deployed officers are working in units dealing with issues including domestic violence, as well as crime response.
But the Police Association claims some of the 16 have been deployed to other police stations, including Keilor Downs.
“Officers working in Melton and Caroline Springs make up part of a broader division where resources, such as highway patrols, local detectives, and sexual offence and child investigation teams can work across areas,” Mr Radisich said.
“Police within the division can be moved around to respond to issues as they arise, while continuing to provide a frontline service to the local community.”
Mr Radisich did not respond to Star Weekly’s question asking if the seconded officers had been replaced by members from other divisions, including transit police and Operational Response Unit officers.
Meanwhile, Police Minister Lisa Neville said the state government is “determined” to put more frontline police on the beat.
“The immediate pressures that are felt in the west are being addressed – with police deploying additional resources, including day and night patrols and extra teams from the Operational Response Unit.
“They are resulting in significant arrests and also the prevention of further incidents, including aggravated burglaries.”
Ms Neville said more than 140 arrests had been made since May as part of Operation Cosmas – a taskforce cracking down on aggravated burglaries and carjackings.
