Source : Perth Now news
A backroom recruitment drive and wider technology rollout have been promoted as a salve for persistent crime and police officer vacancies.
Following a crime announcement blitz from the Victorian opposition, the Allan Labor government has set aside $137.7 million in the May 5 state budget for crime-fighting efforts.
It will spend $62 million to recruit up to 200 reservists, $18.3 million on 3000 iPhones for specialist police and $13.4 million to lift tobacco store inspector numbers from 14 to 40.
Another $44 million has already been earmarked to put an extra 50 protective service officers on the beat.
Victoria’s crime rate had stabilised but remained too high, Police Minister Anthony Carbines said.
“I’m confident that if we continue to provide the investments that Victoria Police need to free up frontline resources … then we’ll see the results that we’re looking for,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
The new iPhones will be handed out to detectives, investigators and officers who attend crime scenes so they don’t have return to the station as often to file paperwork.
Mr Carbines defended the scale of the technology funding, which equates to $6100 per device, declaring it was based on police advice.
Reservist recruits will be made up of retired and former police, freeing up more frontline officers to hit the streets.
Victoria Police Chief Commission Mike Bush described the reservist boost as a “start”, while acknowledging the force remained 1500 officers short.
The Victorian opposition has signalled its intention to recruit 3000 more police officers, including half from UK, Ireland and New Zealand, if it wins the November state election.
Mr Bush repeatedly declined to endorse or reject the coalition’s plan, but said he preferred local people policing local communities.
“I want to recruit people from Australia and I don’t mind a few from across the ditch,” the former New Zealand police commissioner said.
More than $1.6 billion in government spending has been announced over the past five days as Treasurer Jaclyn Symes prepares to deliver her second budget.
Premier Jacinta Allan has brushed aside concerns about it fuelling inflation, suggesting her government will use the “strength” of the budget to shield struggling families.
In a social media video, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and her Liberal colleagues lampooned Labor’s record on machete bins, crumbling roads, tax, debt, graffiti and construction sector corruption.
“Whether it’s potholes or $200 billion budget black holes, you are paying the price for Labor’s waste and mismanagement,” Ms Wilson said.
Victoria was forecast to post a modest surplus this financial year for the first time since 2019/20, with net debt predicted to reach $194 billion by 2028.
