Dozens of police stations across Victoria will soon close to the public during targeted times, despite concern the tactic has been used amid staffing shortages.
Victoria Police will cut down the opening hours of 43 police stations during off-peak times to increase their frontline staff.
It means many stations across the state will be closed to the public in the evenings and during quieter periods, prompting safety concerns.
“When a police station is shut it affects safety,” shadow police minister Brad Battin said.
“People go there as a place of last resort.”
The first 23 stations to cut their opening hours before the end of November include Wyndham North and Avondale Heights in the west, South Melbourne in the CBD, and Camberwell, Malvern, Forest Hill, Mount Waverley and Clayton in the eastern suburbs.
Seven in the south-east will also be affected, as will stations at Mornington and Hastings on the Peninsula.
Six more will shut overnight in the regions, including Portland where the closest 24-hour station will be 100 kilometres away.
Victoria Police said the vast majority of impacted stations would retain reception counter coverage for either 16 or eight hours per day.
It comes just days after the release of Victoria Police’s annual report, which showed a drastic drop in police officers.
The report revealed there were 319 fewer serving officers in 2023 compared to last year.
Wayne Gatt from the Police Association of Victoria said it was a result of years of pressure.
“We have these reduced hours because there aren’t enough people in police stations,” he told 9News.
“We don’t have enough people in police stations because police treat their people so poorly.”
There are currently more than 800 general Victoria Police vacancies plus more officers and staff on long-term sick leave.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations Neil Paterson confirmed most policing districts were understaffed, but stressed the closures were happening during times where stations were “rarely” attended.
“Police know crime is most effectively deterred and detected via highly visible patrols in the community, rather than from behind a scarcely attended reception counter,” he said.
“Redirecting officers towards frontline policing duties will increase the likelihood of crime being prevented, offenders being arrested, and the community remaining safe.”
(9 News)
