Victoria Police officer vacancies top 1000

More than 1000 police jobs in Victoria sit empty, with a surge in officers quitting the force in the past two months.

Victoria Police vacancies have topped 1000, an alarming 25 per cent surge in the space of two months.

Latest force figures show that this week there were 1029 unfilled positions statewide, up by 200 from June 30 this year.

A wave of retirements and a slowing in the number of recruits graduating are major factors in the drop.

Three more police psychologists and medical officers have been brought in to carry out screening work and help clear a backlog in the academy intake.

A Victoria Police spokesman said there were currently 1600 prospective members in the recruitment process, despite moves which have streamlined the graduation process in the past two years.

Victoria Police has 1000 officer vacancies, while close to 700 more are off on WorkCover. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Of those, 410 are awaiting psychological assessment and 420 need a final medical assessment.

The end of the financial year is traditionally a time when police choose to retire but this year’s total of 261 who left the organisation in July and August is well up on the 220 of the same period last year.

There are 681 members off on WorkCover.

Despite these factors, a Victoria Police spokesman said the overall number of officers was slightly higher than at the equivalent time in 2023.

The force has funding for 17,020 police but, the spokesman said, was operating in a highly competitive labour market.

“Police forces elsewhere in Australia and indeed overseas are experiencing similar workforce trends and we retain some of the biggest police numbers in the country. Victoria Police is focused on supporting our hardworking police while continuing to build our workforce,” the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, officers working areas north of the city are operating a “bare bones” structure and claim it is restricting their ability to disrupt and prevent crime.

Hume Acting Sen-Sgt Joseph Hartwig said his sole focus was ensuring his members were available to keep the division van on the road.

Despite it’s 1000 vacancies, Victoria Police says it has 1600 prospective members in waiting. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

He said much of his time was spent planning which members would run police stations through the day and night.

“That’s my focus at the moment. It makes it extraordinarily difficult to commit to public safety and continue to provide that service to the community when they’re my main focus,” he said.

“It’s a real concern for me, I’d love to provide a higher level of service to the community, but it’s really, really problematic and I just don’t have the staff to deliver it.”

The 262,000 residents living in the Hume area – which experienced a 12.7 per cent rise in crime – which is serviced by 175 full time members, according to recent census and police data.

Acting Sen-Sgt Hartwig said the lack of resources meant his members could not proactively work in the community to prevent further harm.

“I’d prevent more crime through my members being out there, deterring people before offences occur,” he added.

Originally published as Victoria Police officer vacancies top 1000