Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton says police ‘making progress’ in Adass Israel Synagogue firebombing investigation

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton says every resource is being thrown at the investigation into the Adass Israel Synagogue firebombing but the probe can’t be rushed.

Victoria Police is “not going to rush” the investigation into the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue as it could jeopardise the quality of the probe, the state’s top cop has said.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton has also said the relentless attacks from police union members directed at him “hurts personally” as the closure of a vote of no confidence in his leadership looms.

Victoria Police has been under constant public pressure to find those responsible for torching the Adass Israel Synagogue last year but no arrests have been made.

But Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton on Thursday said detectives would not risk the quality of the investigation just to publicly announce a breakthrough.

Shane Patton says the Adass Israel Synagogue firebombing investigation won’t be rushed. Picture: Nadir Kinani

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visiting the burnt out synagogue. Picture: Supplied

Mr Patton made no apologies for prioritising the integrity of the investigation.

“I wish I could stand here and give a commentary of where the investigation’s at, but I can’t,” he told 3AW’s Tom Elliott on Thursday.

“All I can say is that we are making progress.

“Would I like it to have been done by now? Absolutely, but I’m not going to rush the quality of the investigation just to be able to give an update.

“The reality is that it’s the number one counter-terrorism investigation for us.

“We have access to all the technical capabilities of ASIO and the AFP and we’re going at it full throttle, I can assure you.”

Speaking generally about the wave of anti-Semitism impacting Melbourne’s Jewish community, Mr Patton said it remained one of the force’s highest priorities.

The Adass Israel Synagogue was firebombed in December: Picture: Supplied

The attack is Victoria Police’s number one counter-terrorism investigation. Picture: Supplied

He said Operation Park – dedicated to investigating hate crimes – looked into every single report of anti-Semitism made to the force.

“I don’t think you could ever do too much to combat anti-Semitism… It is one of our number one priorities,” he added.

“We are doing everything we can but it’s a cancer that’s spreading through society at the moment, it’s a disgrace.

“I can’t come up with enough adjectives to denounce it. It’s abhorrent, it’s disgusting.

“It’s morphing into actions where crimes are being committed… It is threatening people, it is making them feel unsafe.”

Mr Patton said he would comply with a looming IBAC investigation after Victoria Police was accused of allowing anti-Semitism to rise.

“I’m aware one individual has lodged a complaint with IBAC. If they take that complaint seriously and they do determine to investigate it, we’ll respond,” he added.

“But I’m very comfortable with what we’re doing.”

Melbourne is grappling with a wave of anti-Semitic attacks. Picture: Supplied

‘Hurts personally’: Patton responds to no confidence vote push

Victoria’s top cop says the relentless attacks from police union members directed at him “hurts personally” as the closure of the vote of no confidence looms.

Police officers across the state on Wednesday began voting on a potentially damning no confidence against Chief Commissioner Shane Patton which is set to close on Friday.

Mr Patton, who is keen to serve another term as the Chief Commissioner, on Thursday said he understood the members’ frustrations but conceded it was a tough period for him.

“That hurts personally,” he told 3AW.

“I get it, they’re frustrated about a range of things and we’re coming off the backdrop of an 18 month enterprise bargaining agreement.

“The issues that members are concerned with; crime, recruitment, confidence in policing. They’re the issues that I’ve been addressing, that my command team’s been addressing and will continue to work through and we’ve brought in a lot of things already.

“Whichever way the vote goes, all I say is (that) we’re listening to the members and I’ll continue to do my role to the best of my ability.”

Shane Patton says no confidence vote being held by union members “hurts personally”. Picture: Nadir Kinani

An estimated 18,000 members were on Wednesday sent links to vote in the poll which closes at 4pm on Friday.

It comes after the police union’s 70 delegates unanimously voted to put the motion to members, citing surging crime, police vacancies and a reduction in services as critical concerns.

“The members of Victoria Police have serious concerns about the capacity of the Chief Commissioner of Police to manage and lead Victoria Police and as such, express no confidence in the CCP going forward,” the motion states.

“This delegate meeting accordingly calls on the Board of TPAV (The Police Association of Victoria) to gauge members’ sentiment, and its confidence in the Chief Commissioner of Police to lead and manage Victoria Police and its members in the future.”

Union sources said if successful, it was hoped the motion would force the government to run a recruitment campaign for Mr Patton’s job rather than simply extend his contract.

Last week Police Minister Anthony Carbines said it was unlikely the government would re advertise for the position, saying he had full confidence in Mr Patton.

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.

The same figure – just 58 per cent of Victorians – agreed they had “confidence in police”, a drop of 17 per cent from the 2022-23 high of 75 per cent.

Originally published as Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton says police ‘making progress’ in Adass Israel Synagogue firebombing investigation