Victoria Police to recruit 2729 new officers in state’s biggest ever police boost to force
ADULT criminals who lure kids to do their dirty work face up to 10 years behind bars under new laws to be introduced to State Parliament. The laws are part of a $2 billion plan to tackle crime.
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ADULT criminals who lure kids to do their dirty work face up to 10 years behind bars under new laws to be introduced to State Parliament.
The so-called “Fagin’s law” will create the new offence of “procuring young people to commit offences” with a maximum penalty of 10 years, regardless of the crime committed by the youth. It comes as the government outlines a $2 billion plan to tackle crime, including hiring 2729 officers in the biggest recruitment drive in Victoria’s history.
Attorney-General Martin Pakula told the Herald Sun the tough new law meant those who “encourage youths to commit crimes could land themselves behind bars for up to 10 years ... We’re targeting older, experienced criminals who prey on young people to do their dirty work. “This will give police the power to better protect the community and help stamp out this
criminal behaviour,” he said.
The Herald Sun has previously reported how kid gangsters — such as Apex — are groomed by organised crime figures to steal cars and commit armed robberies on pokies venues and jewellery stores. The change has been led by Victoria Police, which has witnessed examples of such behaviour, and has been compared to Fagin’s instructions to children in the Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist.
The new laws will be introduced to parliament early next year. The government plans to increase the police force by 20 per cent in four years.
Police Association secretary Ron Iddles said the commitment couldn’t have come soon enough for the state’s 15,000 police and the community.
“Today’s announcement will be a game changer,” Mr Iddles said.
“It is absolutely essential that additional police numbers reach the frontline where they are needed most.”
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton called the announcement “the greatest commitment to policing in Victoria’s history”.
He said police stations in growth corridors had been stretched, particularly in the southeastern suburbs, outer west, through Wyndham and to Geelong.
Ten stations will be rebuilt, including four in Melbourne at Wyndham, Altona North, Reservoir and South Melbourne, and six in regional Victoria, at Warracknabeal, Wedderburn, Rutherglen, Tangambalanga, Alexandra and Wycheproof.
The Herald Sun believes more new police stations have been proposed to accommodate the extra police.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the government needed to do more in the face of surging crime rates as he announced funding for the extra police.
“Every Victorian has the right to feel safe and sadly many in our community do not feel safe at this time,” he said.
It comes as crime statistics have been rising for the past six years. The investment will include 415 frontline and specialist family violence police as well as 42 youth specialists.
Police Minister Lisa Neville called out youth offenders, and said the government was “not going to allow this to continue”.
“Youth offending overall is down but we have this group who are offending at extraordinary rates and committing very serious crimes and none of the traditional interventions have worked,” she said. “There is too much harm being caused and it is unacceptable.”
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THE HUGE police numbers boost needed support from other elements of the justice system to make a dent in crime, the state’s top victims advocate says.
Victims of Crime Commissioner Greg Davies welcomed the extra 2729 police announced yesterday but said they would need backing to stem the alarming crime rate increases of recent times.
Mr Davies, the former head of the Police Association, said the courts, parole bodies, the prison system and police all needed to operate with the same objectives.
Mr Davies said the role of the courts would be vital in imposing appropriate sentences.
“There’s no point in having more police if the convicted offenders beat them back to the shopping mall,” he said.
“The good ship criminal justice pointing in the same direction pulling the oars with the same level of vigour. Otherwise, we’re just paddling around in circles.”
Opposition police spokesman Ed O’Donohue welcomed the extra officers numbers but said it had come two years too late.
He said Victoria Police did not have an unlimited capacity to train newcomers and would not be placed under unnecessary strain to prepare the new members.
Mr O’Donohue agreed other parts of the justice system had a role to play in making the extra numbers count.
“Extra police is only one element of a much broader effort to fix the justice system in Victoria. We need to bring back consequences for criminal behaviour and respect for the system,” he said.
The State Government is confident its new staff allocation model can keep the state ahead of resourcing requirements.
It believes a system of projections based on crime, emergency management, traffic incidents and response times will provide a more accurate picture of where police are most needed.
It hopes to move away from the historic “boom-bust” cycle of police resourcing to meet frontline demand.
BY THE NUMBERS
2729 new police
$2 billion investment
10 rebuilt police stations
415 frontline and specialist family violence police
42 youth specialist officers
BIGGER AND BETTER POLICE STATIONS
Metro:
Wyndham, Altona North, Reservoir, South Melbourne
Regional Victoria:
Warracknabeal, Rutherglen, Wedderburn, Alexandra, Wycheproof, Tangambalanga