Victoria Police banned from hiring gardeners to maintain lawns outside stations in latest cost-cutting measure

Police sources have sounded the alarm over the latest “crazy” cost-cutting measure, as the force desperately tries to claw back almost $2bn in savings over the next four years.

Police have been banned from hiring gardeners to maintain lawns and gardens outside their stations, as the force desperately tries to rein in spending.

The Herald Sun can reveal the drastic cost-saving measure comes after Victoria Police were ordered to find almost $2bn in savings across the next four years.

The ban will remain in place until at the least the end of this financial year, and police say it is their expectation that “grounds will remain unkept during this time”.

But it’s prompted police sources to sound the alarm about the “crazy” measure, which they fear will lead to grass growing to unsafe lengths.

Police have been banned from hiring gardeners to maintain lawns and gardens outside their stations. Picture: Supplied

In a statement, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said the organisation “continues to operate in a challenging fiscal environment”.

“As a result, it is important that existing funds are prioritised towards continuing to keep the community safe,” she said.

“This has resulted in Victoria Police opting to cease all ground maintenance at police stations for the remainder of the current financial year.

“There has been no directive for police officers to maintain lawns and gardens surrounding stations, with the expectation grounds will remain unkept during this time.

“If grounds require urgent maintenance due to a safety concern, this will be undertaken by the company normally contracted to deliver this service.”

The spokeswoman added that Victoria Police will continue to assess its budgetary position for the 2025-26 financial year.

Former chief commission Shane Patton began exploring cost-cutting measures last year. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

While Victoria Police’s overall budget is not set to be cut, currently at $4.51bn, former chief commissioner Shane Patton began exploring cost-cutting measures last year to find $1.92bn, or almost $500m a year, in savings.

Sources have previously said the force’s inability to meet its budget led to the crackdown.

On Tuesday, Premier Jacinta Allan rejected suggestions that the government had reduced Victoria Police’s budget.

“That is not correct. There has been no cuts to Victoria Police’s budget … there is the responsibility, of course, for all public service agencies to operate within their budget, and the expectations of government with Victoria Police are no different,” she said.

Originally published as Victoria Police banned from hiring gardeners to maintain lawns outside stations in latest cost-cutting measure