Retiring police chief attacks force for 'spin'

A RETIRING assistant police commissioner has attacked the management of Victoria Police, saying it spent too much time on "spin".

A RETIRING assistant police commissioner has attacked the management of Victoria Police, saying it spent too much time on "spin".

Gary Jamieson -- a 37-year police veteran who lost his bid to become chief police commissioner to Simon Overland -- said yesterday "things are not right" in Victoria Police.

"Police are working harder than they've ever done before . . . they are trying to satisfy too many masters, do too many things," he told Fairfax radio.

"So therefore the basic police services aren't being delivered," he said.

Policing "has just got too complex" and police should be given more time to be on the street, making people safe, Mr Jamieson said.

"We are not doing the work that is really important to the public," he said.

Politics was an "everyday" part of policing but the concerns about media image were not helping, he said.

Police were too concerned about their "PR campaigns" and image rather than being straight with the public about issues.

"I think the spin is part of the problem," he said. "I think the other part is that police have lost momentum."

Mr Jamieson said Victoria needed to look at the West Australian model of "back to basics" policing.

"Most police want to get out and police, and they feel very frustrated," he said.

The assistant police commissioner, who is on long-service leave before retiring next July, denied his views amounted to sour grapes.

"Things are just not right in Victoria Police at the moment."

State Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said he had concerns about the "culture" in Victoria Police and a change in management was needed, including more officers on the streets.

Premier John Brumby yesterday gave his full support to Mr Overland.

"I believe Chief Commissioner Simon Overland is bedding down a whole series of changes across the police force that are aimed at further improving the performance and quality of our police force," he said. " I support him 100 per cent in doing that."