Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton ousted after members pass no-confidence vote

Victoria’s Chief Commissioner Shane Patton has been told his contract won’t be renewed after a crushing vote of no confidence in his leadership — but critics say he’s been a “scapegoat” for a government “in crisis” over soaring crime.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton has been told his contract won’t be renewed in a shock move set to spark a hunt for Victoria’s next top cop.

The Herald Sun can reveal that the Chief Commissioner was advised of the decision following a devastating vote of no confidence in his leadership by more than 12,000 police members.

It is unclear whether Mr Patton will see out his contract to the end of June or resign ahead of that time.

In a statement late on Friday night Police Minister Anthony Carbines said he acknowledged the vote and valued the hard work of police.

“A process is under way for the role of the Chief Commissioner of Police and it would be inappropriate to comment further,” he said.

The shock move comes just a week after Mr Carbines said the government had full confidence in the Chief Commissioner.

He also said there would be no need to re-advertise the role, fuelling expectations of a contract extension.

Victorian Chief Commissioner of Police, Shane Patton, will not have his contract renewed. Picture: David Crosling

But pressure for the government to act mounted after more than 12,000 police voted against Mr Patton’s continued leadership.

The results of the damning vote revealed 87.13 per cent of members polled had no confidence in the top cop.

More than 14,500 members voted in the poll – representing 83 per cent of the entire police force – with just 12.87 per cent saying they backed the boss.

The vote followed speculation an extension of Mr Patton’s five year contract, which ends in June, was imminent.

It prompted an angry backlash from members who say morale and confidence have plummeted to their lowest levels under Mr Patton’s leadership.

He has also presided over a lengthy two-year pay dispute that has left members infuriated.

Mr Patton cancelled a scheduled radio interview on Friday afternoon in the fallout of the shock result.

President of The Police Association Victoria president, Karl David, said members had spoken emphatically.

Police members have turned against the top cop. Picture: Sarah Matray

“They do not have confidence in the Chief Commissioner to manage and lead Victoria Police in the future,” he said.

“Our members need urgent fixes to critical failings in policing and for this to occur there needs to be change at the top with a fresh direction.

“Our members have cited concerns with a force in decline, struggling to deliver basic policing services.

“The pressure they place on our people is indescribable and they have not seen tangible evidence or genuine attempts by their leader to fix these critical issues.”

Battin says a new police chief no solution to crime

Opposition Leader Brad Battin on Saturday said removing Mr Patton wouldn’t fix crime.

“Broken bail laws and a Labor government unwilling to act remain the core issues,” he said.

“This is just another diversion tactic from a Premier desperate to hide Labor’s failures and ongoing crises in Victoria.

“Labor’s last-minute backflip on Patton’s contract proves its leadership is weak and reactive. “The Minister and Premier should start taking responsibility for their own failures.”

Last year public satisfaction and confidence in Victoria Police plummeted to its lowest levels since records began.

Just 58 per cent of those surveyed said they were “satisfied with policing services”, a massive fall from 73.1 per cent from the year before.

On Friday night Police Minister Anthony Carbines said he acknowledged the vote and valued the hard work of police. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

“Until today, police have been voting with their feet, leaving the job tired, sick and injured in record numbers,” Mr David said.

“They have said this can’t continue so today, they’ve voted with their voice.

“Today’s not just about police and PSOs or what’s good for them. It’s as much about what’s needed for our community.”

Mr David said Mr Patton had failed to live up to a promise to deliver a back to basics approach to policing.

“The reverse has occurred, police stations have closed, services have diminished, crime has dramatically risen, while community satisfaction has fallen,” he said.

“The Police Association urges the government to listen to its police and PSOs.

“They want to solve the community’s crime and safety crisis, but to do this they need confidence in their leadership. It is clear this confidence does not exist.”

It follows bitter industrial action. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Mr Patton said he was hurt by the response, but said he wanted to continue to lead the force.

“Members have rightly pointed out a number of issues concerning them including the rising crime rate, police vacancies, and the high number of members on long term leave,” he said.

“I too share these concerns and my absolute focus has been on developing strategies and introducing operational responses to prioritise and address these issues.

“Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet and these solutions take time.

“It is also important to note these are not unique issues to Victoria Police and many other jurisdictions are facing the same challenges.

“On top of that, I recognise the unresolved EBA has caused uncertainty for many members due to the length of the negotiations and fact the first offer was voted down.

“Rest assured my commitment to the role of Chief Commissioner has not wavered and I will continue to lead this organisation.

“My priority remains firm on providing the best service to the community to keep them safe and supporting members so they can do their job.”

But rank and file members said Mr Patton’s position was now untenable.

“Time to move on mate. Leave with dignity,” one serving police officer told the Herald Sun.

“Are any sporting clubs successful when there is no support for the top dog?”

Another member said officers felt unsupported.

“We want a change of direction, we want a change of leadership,” he told 3AW.

“They don’t have our backs. We’re stretched and overworked. It’s demoralising.”

President of The Police Association Victoria president Karl David says members have spoken emphatically.

Patton a ‘scapegoat’ for law and order crisis

Critics of the decision said the government had used the dismissal of Mr Patton in an attempt to look decisive about its own law and order crisis.

One former colleague said Mr Patton was, to no small degree, carrying the can for the same government which had made his job harder with bungled approaches to issues like youth crime, bail laws and the illicit tobacco trade.

“Scapegoat central. I feel really sorry for him,” the former cop said.

Another former senior officer who worked with Patton said what had happened reflected badly on the government.

Critics of the decision say the government has used the dismissal of Mr Patton to try to look decisive about its own law and order crisis. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

“They’re just trying to pull themselves out of the fire,” he said.

“It’s terrible. It’s indicative of a government that’s in crisis. They have no answers. They’re just reactive.

“They’re running scared. It’s a short-sighted move. There was no courage in the government to stare down the members.”

Another current officer said he “can’t wait” until Mr Patton is out of the job.

“Almost 90 per cent of cops didn’t vote no confidence for nothing,” he said.

But he, too, admitted Mr Carbines’ decision on Friday night was more of a knee-jerk reaction.

He said there was no clear standout for a replacement.

“Politicians always do things that will make them look better at the start,” he added.

“No idea who it will be.”

Mr Patton also paid heavily in the public perception stakes for his workers having to enforce “crazy” Covid laws cooked up by the state government during the pandemic, a seasoned serving officer said.

“This is where our public support just plummeted. We were expected to be the blunt instrument of bad policy,” he said.

Former Victorian Police commissioner Kel Glare says Mr Patton inherited a police force that was battling rising resentment.

Patton ‘needed to be more vocal in support of troops’

Former chief commissioner Kel Glare told the Herald Sun that Mr Patton partly sped up his own downfall by remaining too tight-lipped about major issues facing frontline officers.

But he said Mr Patton took on the top job when the force was already reaching “crisis point”.

“In one sense, he was a victim of circumstances, but I do think there were some things he could have weighed in on and had a lot more to say and he has paid the penalty for not doing that,” Mr Glare said.

Mr Glare said the state’s youth crime crisis and dwindling police recruits left members feeling as though Mr Patton was too closely aligned with the Victorian government.

“He needed to be far more vocal in support of the troops because after all, they’re the ones on the front line dealing with the same offenders, day in, day out, sometimes only hours after they’ve been bailed,” Mr Glare said.

“He wasn’t strong enough to stand up to government on that issue … in relation to repeat offenders and juvenile criminals being released constantly.

“The perception was that he was too close to government … too willing to do the government’s bidding.”

Mr Glare says for a long time there has been a failure to address the problems facing Victoria Police. Picture: Diego Fedele

Mr Glare, who now sits on the board of the Community Advocacy Alliance, said Mr Patton inherited a police force that was already battling rising resentment among rank and file members over pay disputes and mounting workloads.

“There’s been a failure to address problems facing Victoria Police for a very long time and they’ve just bubbled away and Shane unfortunately came to the job at a time when it was reaching crisis point,” he said.

Mr Glare said Mr Patton’s replacement was staring down the same uphill battle as Mr Patton.

“They will be handed a poisoned chalice,” he said.

“It needs to be someone who understands community needs .. They need someone who has a good feel for what’s happening on the ground, what members are facing and the pressures that they’re under every day.”

Police Federation of Australia treasurer John Laird said he was shocked by the state government’s decision not to renew Mr Patton’s contract.

Mr Laird, a 34-year veteran of the force before he was elected to the police union’s board, said he felt for Mr Patton.

“The government has to acknowledge it has a serious problem with the police force,” he told the Herald Sun.

“The vote wasn’t (surprising) but the government’s response last night was.

“It’s a fairly big step.”

Originally published as Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton ousted after members pass no-confidence vote