Disillusioned union member says targeting of Shane Patton a deflection from the Police Association’s failings

Officers working voluntary duties – which the Police Association of Victoria is asking them to boycott – have been branded “scabs”.

Victoria Police is in crisis, with a marathon pay dispute dividing the force and finances so dire there are not enough funds to properly resource stations, let alone huge wage rises, senior officers claim.

As the police union urges members to walk off the job for the first time in 25 years and escalates its attack on chief commissioner Shane Patton, senior sources say many could ignore the call to strike.

It comes as officers are reportedly turning on cash-strapped colleagues who keep working voluntary duties – which the Police Association of Victoria is asking them to boycott – branding them “scabs”.

The Police Association is calling on members to step up industrial action on Thursday – including 30-minute stop-work meetings in a handful of stations – as it pushes for an $840m deal, with annual pay increases of 6 per cent.

The union is escalating its attack on chief commissioner Shane Patton. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

It is also expected to escalate its attacks on Mr Patton, with slogans daubed on patrol vehicles including “End the Patton of wage theft” and “Our chief the wage thief”.

But with the union encouraging members to speak out against the force, many have decided to talk up against association boss Wayne Gatt, saying he has mishandled the 18-month dispute and is too close to the Allan government, despite it steadfastly refusing to stump up extra cash for the force to fund the union’s pay demands.

One senior officer and disillusioned union member said the targeting of Mr Patton was a deflection from the association’s failings.

“The relentless attack on the chief has caused division at a time when we should be united,” he said.

Police cars have been covered with slogans including ‘our chief the wage thief’.

“There is certainly enough to deal with on our streets rather than this blame game being played by our union.”

Another senior officer said: “There are not enough funds to meet all commitments, which are growing every year, or even resource stations, never mind pay for pay rises.”

A key source of anger for many was the union’s push for a move to work nine-day fortnights and nine-hour days, which the government supported and Mr Patton resisted, and which was firmly rejected by members in June.

A source of anger for many was the union’s push for a move to work nine-day fortnights and nine-hour days. Picture: Getty

One senior officer said: “I don’t know anyone who wanted it. Our current resource limitations made it impossible to achieve. The chief commissioner said so at the outset, as did all of us who are on the frontline.

“Wayne Gatt was wedded to it, though. It was arrogant and the members knew it. But Wayne doesn’t accept responsibility and now deflects by blaming the chief.”

One officer said he’d never seen the force so splintered – with police abusing colleagues as “scabs” for working voluntary shifts to earn extra cash.

One senior officer says Wayne Gatt ‘doesn’t accept responsibility and now deflects by blaming the chief’. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

In one ugly incident last month, a senior officer used a loudspeaker at Geelong station to reportedly “name and shame” colleagues who had volunteered for extra shifts to police the Geelong Cup.

A furious officer told the Herald Sun: “Some of our members face financial difficulties and likely need the overtime to provide for their families. So who are we to criticise or judge them?”