MS TIERNEY— To ask the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations (for the Minister for Police and Emergency Services): In relation to the Baillieu government’s commitment to providing 70 police officers to the Geelong region: How many new police officers have been allocated to the Geelong and Surf Coast region since December 2010.
ANSWER:
I am advised that:
The government is committed to making our communities, including Geelong and the Surf Coast, safer so families can feel safe on our streets, on public transport and in their homes. This is why the government is providing $602 million to deliver 1700 extra front-line police members by November 2014, and by the end of June this year there will be an additional 1200 of these sworn officers allocated to communities across Victoria.
I can advise that in Division 1 of the Victoria Police Western Region, which includes Geelong and Surf Coast, Victoria Police is allocating a further 24 police officers this financial year. This increase is on top of the 12 officers the Division received over the past two years.
The allocation of police resources across the state is an operational decision made by the Chief Commissioner of Police.
Manpower, vehicles and other operational equipment are deployed and assigned taking into account specific operational needs and priorities.
The allocation of police is not fixed and police command regularly reviews the distribution to ensure that the changing needs of each Police Service Area are taken into account.
I can assure you that Victoria Police is committed to providing the best available policing service and continually reviews policing resources with a view to ensuring areas are resourced in the most efficient manner to maximise service delivery.