Police numbers to swell

MORE police will be heading to the south-east in the coming months.
A total of 21 police will be allocated to the City of Casey, Cardinia Shire and City of Greater Dandenong.
They are part of 400 additional police which have been allocated across the state this financial year and 1700 additional police allocated across the state by November 2014.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Strategy and Organisational Development Lucinda Nolan said since early 2011, a total of 850 extra police have been rolled out across Victoria.
“We’re already seeing the positive impact that these kinds of numbers are having on our communities,” Ms Nolan said.
“We’ve got more recruits going through the Victoria Police Academy, we’ve got more graduates ready to go into our stations and onto our streets, and we’re seeing that this increased police presence in our communities is really beginning to show in tackling the local crime issues, such as property damage and assaults.”
Ms Nolan said the decision to allocate police numbers to certain areas were decided based on population size in growing areas and large regional areas, current crime levels and emerging crime trends.
“We factor in which areas are facing high operational demand and what the community concerns are,” Ms Nolan said.
“Most importantly, we will continue to look at where these police can make a difference, and continue to roll out the additional 1700 police and 940 Protective Services Officers, to make Victorians feel safer and be safer.”
Ms Nolan said it would be the responsibility of the Divisional Superintendents to determine which Police Service Areas (PSAs) and stations receive the additional resources.
The 2012/13 police numbers allocation will be announced mid 2012.