Victoria Police is likely to ask the state government for more police in growth corridors to deal with a recent crime wave.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told radio station 3AW police stations in growth suburbs were “stretched”, and Victoria Police were having talks with the police union about a new deployment model.
“We’re working in relation to deploying this current lot and working out then where the demand is for further [police],” Chief Commissioner Ashton said.
“And that’s going to drive our decision-making about talking to the government.”
The state government announced funding for 300 frontline police in this year’s state budget, but they’re not expected to be deployed to stations until next year and Police Association secretary Ron Iddles doesn’t believe those numbers are enough.
An additional 55 police are needed in Melton to be on par with the state average, and a further 81 to keep up with population growth, according to Mr Iddles.
Chief Commissioner Ashton said it was a “foregone conclusion” that more police are needed, and a conversation with the state government was “highly likely” in the coming months.
