‘Best person for the job’: Former NZ commissioner Mike Bush named Victoria’s top cop

A former New Zealand police chief is set to take the top spot at Victoria Police, weeks after a no-confidence vote gave Shane Patton the boot.

Former New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush is set to take the top job at Victoria Police.

Mr Bush is expected to step into the role from June for a five-year term. His appointment comes weeks after Shane Patton left the post following a vote of no confidence.

The state government is understood to have made the decision on Monday, with Mr Bush being “approached” by a recruitment agency commissioned by the government.

His first day in the role will be June 27.

Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent is set to depart his role with Victoria Police on Thursday, with Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill temporarily filling the role until Mr Bush takes over.

Victoria’s new top cop Mike Bush says he has a ‘passion for police’. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

He replaces Shane Patton. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

Premier Jacinta Allen said Victoria wanted “the best person” to take the top cop position.

“(The job search) was a process that spanned Victoria, Australia and international policing organisations because the instruction to the recruiting agency and then the panel, what went through the process was we wanted the best person to lead Victoria Police into the future,” she said.

“What we have here is an opportunity to look to what the needs are of Victoria Police, backing our hardworking men and women of Victoria Police … focusing in on community safety, working with an incoming chief commissioner who has led a large police force.”

Victoria is experiencing the highest crime rate in almost a decade, with a 15.7 per cent increase in criminal offences recorded compared with last year.

However, the incoming commissioner said Victoria was not alone in facing a spate of rising crime.

“These crime issues are actually global,” he told reporters.

“They’re quite similar wherever you’ve gone, but it’s not good enough just to turn up after the act. It’s really important that we respond well, we investigate, we resolve.

“But you have to do more.

“You have to get in front of these things, and having a prevention mindset and a prevention focus at the front is really, really important.”

Police Minister Anthony Carbines and Victoria’s new police chief Mike Bush, who started his career in 1987. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

With more than four decades working as a police officer, Mr Bush served as New Zealand Police chief commissioner from 2014 before announcing his retirement in 2020.

During his tenure, he was instrumental in the response to the 2019 Christchurch massacre, where 51 people were killed in the Al Noor Mosque by an Australian gunman.

He began his police career in 1987 and said he had a “real passion for police”.

“I’ve been doing it my entire adult life,” he told reporters. “And police services are at the forefront of that.”

Originally published as ‘Best person for the job’: Former NZ commissioner Mike Bush named Victoria’s top cop