COMMUNITY SAFETY STATEMENT 2018/19
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
COMMUNITY SAFETY STATEMENT 2018/19
Aboriginal acknowledgement The Victorian Government proudly acknowledges Victorian Aboriginal people as the first peoples and Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and water on which we rely. We acknowledge and respect that Aboriginal communities are steeped in traditions and customs built on an incredibly disciplined social and cultural order. This social and cultural order has sustained more than 50,000 years of existence. We acknowledge the ongoing leadership of the Aboriginal community in addressing Aboriginal over-representation in the justice system and are joining with the Aboriginal community to drive better outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians, including through the Aboriginal Justice Agreement. 2 |
CONTENTS
Foreword from the Premier and Minister 4
Foreword from the Chief Commissioner 5
Our commitment to you 6
What’s new in the Community Safety Statement 2018/19 14
What you can expect to see over the course of 2018/19 15
Introduction 16
The difference we want to make 18
Reducing harm 24
Increasing connection with the community 32
Putting victims first 40
Holding offenders to account 46
Improving Victoria Police capability, culture and technology 54
What you told us 59
| 3
FOREWORD FROM
THE PREMIER AND MINISTER
There’s nothing more important than keeping our state safe.
Thankfully, Victoria is home to an exceptional police First, we committed to the biggest police
force – men and women who are highly trained and recruitment drive in Victorian history.
dedicated to serving their local communities.
Now, we’re making sure our men and women in
They put themselves on the line for us – and they blue have everything they need – the powers, the
should get all the help they need. equipment and the technology – to get the jump
on crime.
But for too long, police resourcing was determined
by elections, not by experts. We’re giving police the powers they need to catch
criminals, but we’re also focused on ensuring
It’s why, in 2016, we released the first ever
criminals are held to account.
Community Safety Statement.
It’s why, at the same time, we’re protecting
With it – the biggest ever investment in law
Victorians by introducing tough new bail and parole
and order in our state's history, including the
laws, while further strengthening sentencing.
funding, recruiting and deploying of an extra
3,135 new police. Of course, not every kid who makes a bad decision
is destined to become a bad adult.
And already, hundreds of these new officers have
hit our streets. And right now, across our state, ice is destroying
lives and devastating communities.
Importantly, the number and location of these
new recruits is being determined by a sophisticated So, we’re doubling the number of drug rehab beds
and evidence-based model, developed by Victoria and we’re introducing new compulsory treatment
Police in consultation with The Police Association orders for adults with multiple and complex needs,
of Victoria. including addiction, who pose a risk of violence
to others.
It means that, finally, it’s police – rather than
politicians – making the big decisions. With more police, more protection, and more
prevention, we’re making Victoria safer.
And it’s an approach that’s working.
Recent independent crime data has shown that our
police are driving down crime across Victoria. Hon Daniel Andrews MP
Premier of Victoria
But it’s only the beginning – and the Community
Safety Statement 2018/19 takes our work even Hon Lisa Neville MP
further, delivering the police, protection and Minister for Police
prevention our state needs.
4 |
FOREWORD FROM
THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER
Victoria Police continues to work hard to keep people safe, by assisting
those in need, preventing offences from occurring, and detecting and
apprehending offenders.
Victoria Police welcomes the Victorian Victoria Police will continue to deliver on the
Government’s continued investment in investment set out in this Statement through
operational policing and specialist personnel, the Victoria Police Capability Framework. The
and in our infrastructure and equipment. In an Government’s policy priorities in the Statement
increasingly complex policing environment, better align with our focus on reducing harm, working
access to technology and specialised equipment, more closely with victims, and connecting with the
a highly trained police force, and law reform are community to ensure they are safe and they feel safe.
all essential. These measures will enable us to
As Chief Commissioner, I take very seriously my
further strengthen our response to some key issues,
responsibilities and independence under the
including family violence, youth offending, road
Victoria Police Act 2013 to implement the policing
safety, terrorism, drugs, public disorder
policy and priorities of the Government, while being
and the safety and wellbeing of our staff.
responsible for the management and control of
We know that the causes of crime are complex Victoria Police. I accept the priorities set out in
and varied, and keeping the community safe this Statement and remain committed to ensuring
requires government to work together. We are Victoria continues to be a safe and secure place to
working in partnership across government to live for everyone in our community.
ensure that the measures to address and prevent
Victoria Police has a long history of keeping the
crime are coordinated and, more broadly, there
community safe. This investment helps police to
is a strong collaborative response to the key
maintain that tradition, further enhancing the
justice challenges facing Victoria. We are also
capabilities of police who are on duty, 24 hours a
strengthening our proactive engagement with the
day, every day of the year, serving the community
broader community and working closely with key
and working to uphold the right.
community stakeholders to ensure that Victorians
have confidence in the measures we take.
Graham Ashton AM
Chief Commissioner
| 5
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
The first Community Safety Statement outlined the Victorian
Government’s plan for keeping our state safe.
It also set out exactly what is being done to drive That includes expanding the investment and
down crime, beginning with the delivery of 3,135 support being delivered to Victoria Police, as well
new frontline police – the biggest investment in as the broader reform work being done to the
Victoria’s history. justice system to ensure perpetrators are being
adequately punished.
This investment was underpinned by a new model of
police resourcing – developed by Victoria Police in It also outlines how the Government and Victoria
consultation with The Police Association of Victoria Police will be held to account for the delivery of
– that ended the boom and bust cycles of the past. initiatives through twice-yearly public reporting by
the independent Community Safety Trustee.
Last year’s Community Safety Statement also
made clear the Government’s additional priorities Further demonstrating our shared commitment
– reducing family violence and other serious to remaining accountable and on track, a new
offending, greater community engagement, putting Community Safety Statement will be issued
victims first, holding offenders to account and every year.
boosting police technology and capability.
It’s a long-term commitment that puts an end to
These commitments – developed in partnership short-term quick fixes.
with Victoria Police – were accompanied by a record
Finally, we now have the steady hand that’s needed
$2 billion investment that provided the people,
to keep our state safe.
resources, laws and support needed for Victoria
Police to deliver a safer Victoria. Finally, the politics is being taken out of policing.
The Community Safety Statement 2018/19 builds
on this foundational work, detailing the police,
protection and prevention our state needs.
6 |
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED SINCE THE FIRST STATEMENT
The first Community Safety Statement outlined the It also showed that in 2017, Victoria experienced
Government’s efforts to keep our state safe. the biggest drop in crime in the 12 years of
data examined by the independent Crime
This included a $2 billion investment to help Victoria
Statistics Agency.
Police further strengthen its commitment to detect
crime and apprehend offenders. These decreases are welcome. But they in no way
diminish the harm and trauma experienced by
The initiatives and investment outlined in the first
victims of crime.
Statement are having an impact.
We know that more needs to be done. It is the
Recent crime data from the independent Crime
experience of victims that is at the heart of every
Statistics Agency show that in 2017 the crime rate
effort detailed in this statement.
declined for the first time since 2011.
In 2017, Victoria experienced the biggest drop in crime
in the 12 years of data examined by the independent
Crime Statistics Agency.
Graph 2: Offences Recorded
Rolling 12 months - Yearly Percentage Change in Crime Statistics
Offences recorded
Rolling 12 months - Yearly Percentage Change in Crime Statistics
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
-5.0%
-10.0%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Source: Crime Statistics Agency, Recorded Crime Statistics - YEAR ENDING 31 December 2017
8 |
Since the Community Safety Statement 2017, MORE POLICE
we have been: We’re investing in the biggest recruitment drive in
Victoria Police’s history.
• recruiting 3,135 extra police, including
At the same time, we’re making sure our police have
415 family violence specialists
the facilities and equipment they need to keep our
• taking the politics out of policing, by adopting state safe.
the Staff Allocation Model (SAM), ensuring
Police numbers
police recruitment is no longer at the whim of
politicians but instead guided by experts With more police on the beat than ever before,
• strengthening bail laws and giving police we’re working to protect communities across our
more powers to remand a person in custody state. We’re also making sure police officers can
spend less time stuck behind a desk, employing new
• increasing the length of imprisonment for specialists and custody officers.
12 of the state’s most serious crimes
Importantly we have reformed police resourcing –
• changing the law so that a custodial using Victoria Police’s sophisticated Staff Allocation
sentence – imprisonment or a drug treatment Model (SAM) – to ensure that police recruitment,
order – is the only option for serious crimes allocation and deployment is determined by experts,
• making it harder to get parole and increasing and not the whims of politicians.
post-sentence supervision Our investments include:
• fixing the family violence system, so victims • recruiting 3,135 extra police to keep our state safe.
are protected and perpetrators are held to This is above and beyond filling regular turn over
account. and includes 415 specialist family violence police
to stop the harm caused by family violence and
Community safety is the number one priority for the free up existing officers to tackle other crime
Victorian Government. • delivering new youth specialist officers to work
That’s why the initiatives and investment in the first with at-risk young people to divert them from
Community Safety Statement were bigger than just crime
one year’s funding. • rolling out 100 additional Protective Services
It represents a fundamental change in how Officers (PSOs) across the public transport
governments approach police and community network to better target criminal and anti-social
safety resourcing and policy. behaviour
It’s about setting Victoria Police up not just for one • the full rollout of 400 Police Custody Officers
year, but for the next decade. across police stations, freeing up police officers
from prisoner management so they can get back
on the frontline
With more police on the beat • establishing new specialist police to fight
technology enabled offending by serious
than ever before, we’re working and organised criminals.
to protect communities across
our state.
| 9
Technology, tools and training MORE PROTECTION
Our police need the right technology, tools At the same time, we’re reforming the criminal
and training to keep our state safe. justice system to make sure serious and violent
offenders don’t end up back on the streets.
Our investments include:
That includes toughened bail laws, strengthened
• rolling out the biggest police station infrastructure
sentencing laws, reforms to the parole system,
program in a generation
tackling youth offending, and changing the post-
• upgrading the Police Air Wing, which has proven sentence supervision and detention scheme.
vital to tracking and arresting some of our worst
Bail
offenders
• developing strong new police powers to target Since the Bourke Street tragedy, the Government
dangerous and repeat offenders has further strengthened bail laws.
• tooling up our specialist police with equipment That means it will be much harder for people
upgrades for the Special Operations Group, the accused of serious violent, drug and sexual offences
Bomb Response Unit and the Critical Incident to get bail.
Response Team and access to enhanced This includes people charged with serious crimes
specialist training such as aggravated carjacking and aggravated
• enhancing the forensic capability of Victoria home invasion. The changes also give police the
Police power to remand a person in custody for up to
48 hours.
• giving all frontline police access to mobile
technology and body-worn cameras We have also established a Night Court for
magistrates to hear bail requests over weekends
• a new police intelligence system to better and after hours as part of a major shakeup of
investigate crime and catch repeat offenders Victoria’s bail system.
• funding a Police Assistance Line and Online Sentencing
Reporting portal
The Government’s reforms to sentencing, which
• providing for a revamped crime prevention model
passed in 2017, are aimed at increasing sentences
to tackle youth offending and improve community
for some of the most serious crimes.
and police engagement
These reforms will increase the length of
• equipping all Highway Patrol cars with automated
imprisonment for 12 of the state’s most serious
number plate recognition technology to get
crimes, including murder, rape, culpable driving
dangerous drivers off the roads
causing death, trafficking a large commercial
• making it harder for organised crime to infiltrate quantity drug of dependence, and several serious
the scrap metal industry. sex offences.
These reforms build on the Government’s already
We’re reforming the significant work to strengthen sentencing.
That includes changing the law so that a custodial
criminal justice system sentence – imprisonment or a drug treatment order
to make sure serious and – is the only option for 11 of the most serious crimes
including murder, rape, and causing serious injury
violent offenders don’t with gross violence.
end up back on the streets.
10 |For these offences, judges can no longer impose a • having the most serious youth offending heard by
Community Correction Order or other non-custodial the County or Supreme Court, rather than the
orders. If you commit one of these offences, you Children’s Court
will be sentenced to custody – jail, or a drug
• a new offence, which carries a jail term of up
treatment order.
to 10 years, for organised criminals and other
For a further nine serious offences, the court is adults who recruit young people to commit
required to impose a custodial sentence unless crimes for them
special reasons apply.
• requirements on the Children’s Court to consider
The Government has also created new offences community safety in their decision-making
with statutory minimum prison sentences for serious
• to further improve transparency and support
crimes, including aggravated carjacking
Victoria Police, the Department of Justice and
and aggravated home invasion. In these cases,
Regulation is now sharing regular youth justice
courts must impose a minimum non-parole period
custodial updates including information on
of 3 years.
release dates for young people with Victoria Police
Parole
• to prevent at-risk young people from offending,
The Government has continued to implement the government is funding new Community
the 2013 Callinan Review into parole, as part of a Support Groups that bring together police,
complete overhaul of the parole system. government agencies, community leaders
and community agencies in Brimbank/Melton,
As a result, community safety is now the paramount Wyndham and Greater Dandenong. These
consideration in all parole decisions. groups will identify local needs and create
Additionally, serious offenders who seek parole must targeted prevention programs.
now go through a two-stage test – fail at either and Prisons and correctional facilities
parole will not be granted.
As we strengthen the police force and our
The Government has also passed legislation that
criminal justice system, we must also strengthen
ensures any convicted murderer who doesn’t
our prisons.
reveal the location of their victim’s body will not be
released on parole, and that anyone convicted of The 2017/18 Budget included $145 million to address
murder, conspiracy to murder, manslaughter, and current needs, while also future-proofing the system.
accessory to murder of a police officer will not be
In October 2017, the Government opened the new
released on parole.
Ravenhall medium-security facility, adding an
Youth offending additional 1000 beds to the system.
The Government is also cracking down on youth Since then, the Government has announced $345
offending, investing more than $1 billion to million to add 470 new beds across the system,
strengthen the youth justice system. while also significantly expanding the Lara Prison
Precinct, which will be roughly double the size of
This investment includes new staff and higher levels Barwon Prison.
of training being rolled out to youth justice facilities.
Existing facilities at Parkville and Malmsbury are
also being strengthened, fortified and expanded
and nearly $300 million has been invested in a new
high-security 224-bed facility at Cherry Creek.
In addition, new laws have been passed to address
serious offending by young people. These include:
| 11Post-sentence supervision and detention As part of the Ice Action Plan we have invested $180
million to save lives, help families, support workers,
Our priority is to keep Victorians safe. reduce supply and make our communities safer and
It’s why we have strengthened the post-sentence stronger. Our Drug Rehabilitation Plan invests an extra
$87 million to expand treatment, invests in 100 more
supervision and detention scheme for serious sex
rehab beds, and targets dealers who put these drugs
offenders and are extending it to serious violent
on the streets.
offenders.
We are also providing more practical support for
Under the Government’s reforms, offenders can people and families trying to urgently locate drug
be placed under rigorous supervision, including treatment services and cracking down on unsafe
electronic monitoring, curfews, no-go zones, and private providers who prey on desperate families.
strict reporting requirements when their prison
At the same time, we’re cracking down on the people
sentences end. This includes harsher penalties for
who profit from these dangerous drugs, giving police
breaches of supervision orders and greater police additional powers to search for and seize illegal
monitoring of serious sex offenders. substances.
Our changes will also ensure that when a serious Family violence
violent or sex offender is deemed unsuitable for
release into the community, that offender will Recognising that family violence is Australia’s
remain within a secure facility. biggest law and order issue, the Victorian
Government launched the first ever Royal
MORE PREVENTION Commission into Family Violence. The Royal
We’re cracking down on crime. But we also want to Commission’s final report recommended a systemic
prevent it from happening in the first place. overhaul of services across government.
By investing in prevention, we’re helping to keep The Government immediately committed to
Victoria safe now, and into the future. implementing every recommendation made by the
Royal Commission, committing an unprecedented
Drug rehabilitation
investment of $572 million in the 2016/17 Budget,
We know that drug problems are complex, and can and $1.91 billion in the 2017/18 Budget to fulfil that
affect a wide range of people. commitment.
Trauma and life challenges can make anyone
susceptible to the source of drugs. We also know that
substance misuse has a complex relationship with
mental health issues, making the challenge of tackling
drug addiction even harder.
We also know that drug use leaves families devastated
and communities suffering.
It’s why we’re investing in early intervention
and treatment.
12 |Progress to date includes: WHAT’S NEW IN THIS STATEMENT
• $130.3 million to establish the Specialist Family The Community Safety Statement 2018/19
Violence Court model at the Ballarat, Frankston, recommits the Government and Victoria Police
Shepparton, Moorabbin and Heidelberg to five key priorities and the actions that will keep our
Magistrates’ Courts as well as other court-based state safe.
reforms
1. Reducing harm – so threats are identified and
• new information sharing between Victoria Police, prevented, and Victorians are safe from crime
Child Protection and Corrections Victoria staff to
better identify and prevent harm 2. Increasing connection to the community – so
communities’ concerns are listened to and acted
• more programs to hold perpetrators to account, on, and police have a highly visible presence on our
including a further $49.5 million for community- streets
based responses, and $9.4 million for the Family
Violence Restorative Justice program 3. Putting victims first – so victims are at the heart
of policing, and women and children live free from
• more assistance for victim survivors with housing family violence
and support services
4. Holding offenders to account – so people who
• 415 family violence specialist police officers are commit crime are punished
being allocated, and a new Victoria Police strategy
to combat family violence, sexual offences and 5. Improving Victoria Police capability, culture and
child abuse – Policing Harm, Upholding the Right – technology – so the police force has everything it
has been released needs to fight crime and keep our state safe.
• a dedicated Family Violence Centre of Learning The major distinction between this Community Safety
is being established at the Victoria Police Statement and the last is that it has been shaped by
Academy to further strengthen family violence feedback from Victorians.
training for all police Last year, more than 4,900 Victorians were asked
• an external Academic Governance Board has to provide their direct input on community safety
also been appointed to advise Victoria Police on priorities.
ways it can improve its family violence education This input has been vital. It means that the Community
in 2018. Safety Statement 2018/19 has been shaped by policing
and justice professionals, but also informed by the
direct voice of Victorians.
The Community Safety Statement 2018/19 has been shaped
by policing and justice professionals, but also informed by
the direct voice of Victorians.
| 13WHAT’S NEW IN THE COMMUNITY SAFETY
STATEMENT 2018/19
The Community Safety Statement 2018/19 recommits the efforts of the
Government and Victoria Police, while taking our work even further,
delivering the police, protection and prevention our state needs.
That includes bedding down the reforms committed to in the 2017 Statement, while also delivering
the specialist technology and equipment needed by police to target and prevent crime.
WHAT’S NEW IN WHAT’S NEW IN WHAT’S NEW IN
POLICING PROTECTION PREVENTION
• more Protective Services • tougher punishments for young • a new Fixated Threat
Officers (PSOs) across the people who offend with new Assessment Centre to better
public transport network, orders, facilities and penalties identify and respond to
with early work underway individuals who may pose
• stronger sentencing, with
to consider an expansion a threat to public safety
new laws to limit the use of
into places such as shopping
Community Correction Orders • new compulsory treatment
centres, malls, and other
for adults with multiple and
places of mass gathering • new laws to respond to
complex needs, including
incidents of injury and assault
• new mobile police stations to addiction, who pose a risk
against police and emergency
tackle crime when and where of violence to others will be
service workers
it happens introduced
• introducing longer prison
• new police powers to better • new resources and training
sentences and harsher
prevent and respond to terrorist to help police recognise and
penalties for drug dealers
incidents respond to the early signs of
• creating new laws to target family violence
• specialist training and access to
organised crime
longarm firearms for selected • even more funding for projects
police in Melbourne and • improving the way the justice that prevent youth crime
regional Victoria system treats victims.
• further work to improve safety
• harsher penalties for drug and in public spaces through
drink driving lighting and design
• more opportunities to connect • extra support to divert kids
with Victoria Police, both online away from crime, and into
and in person. education, training or a job
• a strengthened focus on
crime prevention, working
with Neighbourhood Watch
and Crime Stoppers.
14 |WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE
OVER THE COURSE OF 2018/19
The rollout of initiatives outlined in the first two Community Safety
Statements means that Victorians can expect to see not just new
actions and activity, but real improvements in community safety.
MORE POLICE MORE PROTECTION MORE PREVENTION
• continuing recruitment of new • implementation of the new • more drug rehab beds treating
police with 825 extra police, Firearm Prohibition Order more Victorians for their
above attrition, to be deployed scheme to curb illegal gun crime addictions
in 2018/19 and target violent offenders
• rollout of new youth specialist
• continuing commitment to • tougher bail and remand police to reduce the risk of
24 hour police stations being reforms vulnerable young people
open and accessible at all hours offending
• harsher penalties for injuring
• more PSOs across the public or threatening police and • new initiatives to target the root
transport system emergency service workers causes of crime in young people
• body-worn cameras on frontline and in specific communities
• more offenders being held to
police, providing new capability account with longer sentences • more opportunity for local
to capture evidence communities to take control
• cash for scrap metal banned,
• rollout of Victoria Police’s of crime prevention activity
denying organised crime a key
sophisticated intelligence system, in their own areas
revenue stream
gathering information and
• more support for organisations
leading to quicker arrests • tougher punishments for young
like Crime Stoppers and
people who offend with new
• more police and PSOs equipped Neighbourhood Watch
orders, facilities and penalties
with mobile technology, giving
• new security measures in
them real-time access to • extra mobile policing units to
Melbourne's CBD
operational information stamp out crime at a local level.
• complete rollout of Victoria Police • more ways to contact police
Eyewatch Facebook pages to all and resolve non-emergency
54 police service areas issues.
• new specialist police to fight
technology enabled offending by
serious and organised criminals
• new mobile police stations to
tackle crime when and where
it happens.
| 15INTRODUCTION
The Victorian Government and the Chief In the Community Safety Statement 2017,
Commissioner of Victoria Police share the Government set five priorities to make
a commitment to reduce crime and keep Victoria safer:
our state safe.
1. Reducing harm – so threats are identified and
The commitments the Government makes in this prevented, and Victorians are safe from crime
and future Community Safety Statements
2. Increasing connection to the community – so
provide Victoria Police with the people, powers
communities’ concerns are listened to and acted
and technology they need to respond to crime,
on, and police have a highly visible presence on
now and in the future.
our streets
While our police are the experts in fighting crime,
3. Putting victims first – so victims are at the heart
it’s important to acknowledge that Victoria Police
of policing, and women and children live free from
is one of many agencies responsible for keeping
family violence
our state safe. Other government agencies and the
broader justice system all play fundamental roles in 4. Holding offenders to account – so people who
promoting a safe and just Victoria. commit crime are punished
5. Improving Victoria Police capability, culture and
technology – so the police force has everything it
needs to fight crime and keep our state safe.
The Government also outlined the expected
outcomes from the Community Safety Statement
commitments and the indicators of progress
towards these outcomes.
Progressing on the commitments of the first
Statement, the Community Safety Statement
2018/19 sets out:
• how the Government will measure progress
• what we have been doing to increase
community safety
• what’s next.
Since the first Community Safety Statement
was released, the Government has heard from
more than 4,900 Victorians on their views about
community safety.
The findings of this consultation are used to map
expectations and ideas about community safety,
and to help shape our community safety policy
and priorities.
The findings of this consultation can be found on
page 59.
16 |THE DIFFERENCE WE WANT TO MAKE
Keeping Victorians safe is our number one priority.
It’s why the Victorian Government is investing in more police, more protection, and more prevention.
This Statement shows where the Victorian Government has invested, why, and what the next steps are.
MEASURING OUR INVESTMENT A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
The 2017 Statement included the outcomes and APPROACH
changes Victorians could expect to see from our Since the outcomes framework was presented in
investments, as well as a commitment to measuring the Community Safety Statement 2017, new (or
our progress. replacement) indicators have been integrated into
The table on the following page details priority the framework to better represent Victoria Police’s
outcomes, including measures to track our progress. contribution to community safety. These are marked
Where possible, the framework uses measures that with an * on the following page.
are already collected and validated. These include This outcomes framework will continue to evolve
the Crime Statistics Agency’s crime data, the with new indicators or measures in response to
Productivity Commission’s Report on Government factors such as changing priorities or new data
Services, and the Victorian Public Sector sources becoming available. The Government will
Commission’s People Matter Survey. work with Victoria Police on developing ways to
better measure the progress of outcomes. While
HOW PROGRESS WILL BE ASSESSED
new data sources are developed, future Community
Going forward, the Government will use data Safety Statements will use descriptive information
from the 2016/17 financial year as the benchmark to demonstrate the impact of initiatives.
to measure progress against the outcomes. The
In addition, the Crime Statistics Agency is
Government is also working with Victoria Police
developing a measure of the harm caused by
on options for developing appropriate targets for
crime that will be integrated into the framework
the measures.
when it is complete. This will enable the
Government to identify the crimes that cause
most harm and track how they change in response
to Victoria Police activities.
KEEPING US ACCOUNTABLE
To ensure that the Victorian Government and
Victoria Police are publicly accountable for
delivering the commitments in the Community
Safety Statement, in April 2017, the Victorian
Government created the role of Community
Safety Trustee.
The Trustee is overseeing the implementation of the
Community Safety Statements and also provides
independent, expert advice about community
safety to the Minister for Police.
18 |REDUCING HARM
OUTCOME INDICATOR MEASURE
Proportion of Victorians who felt safe
home alone during the night
Feelings of safety walking alone in
Enhanced public your neighbourhood
perceptions of safety
Proportion of Victorians who felt
VICTORIANS LIVE safe or very safe travelling on public
transport
FREE FROM CRIME
Reduction in reported high harm
Reduction in harm rates * crimes (to commence in 2019)
Reduction in repeat calls Reduction in repeat victimisation for
for attendance crimes against the person
Reduction in harm on Total reported road fatalities in
vehicle collisions
Victoria’s roads; including
a decrease in total Total persons reported injured in
reported road trauma vehicle collisions
Number of seized vehicles related to
hooning
Increased identification
Number of licence cancellations for
and removal of high-risk drink driving offences
drivers from our roads
Number of licence cancellations for
drug driving offences
THREATS ARE IDENTIFIED
AND PREVENTED The number of firearm prohibition
orders issued
The number of firearms and firearm
related items seized related to
firearm prohibition orders
Prevention of high Number and weight of drug seizures
harm crime * in relation to drug trafficking
Contravention of family violence
intervention orders
Reduction of repeat victims
of family violence
| 19INCREASING CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY
OUTCOME INDICATOR MEASURE
Increased proportion Proportion of people who agree
VICTORIANS TRUST THAT of people who agree or strongly agree that ‘police treat
people fairly and equally’
VICTORIA POLICE WILL or strongly agree that
KEEP THEM AND THEIR ‘police treat people Satisfaction of those who had
PROPERTY SAFE fairly and equally’
contact with police in the previous
12 months
COMMUNITIES ARE Improved community
General satisfaction with services
LISTENED TO AND satisfaction with and provided by police
INVOLVED confidence in police
Number of additional police sworn in
above attrition and equivalent shifts
Increased number this equates to
of frontline shifts Number of crime scenes attended
by crime scene officers
VICTORIA POLICE HAS
A HIGHLY VISIBLE Increased use of
PRESENCE IN, AND communication
Uptake in PAL/OLR services
STRONG CONNECTION channels between (from introduction in 2019)
WITH, THE COMMUNITY Victoria Police and
the community *
Number of interactions
Increased community between police and members
engagement * of the community (data available
from 2019)PUTTING VICTIMS FIRST
OUTCOME INDICATOR MEASURE
Improved levels of Satisfaction of those who had
VICTIMS AND WITNESSES
victims' satisfaction contact with police in the previous
ARE SUPPORTED 12 months
with police service
Contravention of family violence
VULNERABLE CHILDREN Improved responsiveness intervention orders
AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE for victims of family
Proportion of affected persons
KEPT SAFE violence * receiving referrals
VULNERABLE WOMEN
AND CHILDREN LIVE Reduction in repeat Reduction of repeat victims of
FREE FROM VIOLENCE victimisation family violence
AND ABUSE
HOLDING OFFENDERS TO ACCOUNT
OUTCOME INDICATOR MEASURE
Family violence
OFFENDERS
reoffending will be
UNDERSTAND THE
eliminated - consistent Proportion of unique perpetrators to
CONSEQUENCES OF, AND family violence incidents
with Ending Family
ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE
Violence: Victoria’s Plan
FOR, THEIR ACTIONS
for Change
Reduction in offences Reduction of number of indictable
offences while on bail
by people on police bail
Increased use of
SERIOUS OFFENDERS legislative powers
ARE MONITORED including those relating Increase number of restraining
orders referred to the Office of Public
to asset confiscation, Prosecutions in relation to asset
unlawful associations, confiscation
unexplained wealth,
and licensing
OFFENDERS CHANGE Reduction in youth Number of youth referrals
THEIR BEHAVIOUR reoffending
| 21IMPROVING VICTORIA POLICE CAPABILITY,
CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
OUTCOME INDICATOR MEASURE
Increase in the number and
percentage of women in Victoria
Police
VICTORIA HAS A Greater workforce Number and % of employees who
identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait
MODERN POLICE FORCE diversity in gender, Islander
THAT REFLECTS THE cultural background
Number and % of employees who
COMMUNITY and disability identify themselves as having a
disability
Number and % of employees who
identify themselves as CALD
Reduction in
substantiated Number of substantiated complaints
against Victoria Police over 5 years
VICTORIA’S POLICE complaints against
FORCE HAS A CULTURE Victoria Police
OF FAIRNESS AND Reduced average time to return to
RESPECT, IS JUST, Increased wellbeing of work for personnel with mental
AND CALLS OUT BAD Victoria Police employees * injury / stress leave
BEHAVIOUR Increase in overall job
Proportion of staff who report they
satisfaction for the are satisfied with their job
Victoria Police workforce
VICTORIA POLICE
DELIVERS Increased detection of Offenders identified through
EVIDENCE-BASED crime and reoffending automatic number plate recognition
technology
INITIATIVES AND using technology
INTERVENTIONS
22 |REDUCING HARM
The Government’s first priority is to keep people safe.
Before the release of the first Community Safety Statement, Victoria had experienced yearly increases in crime
rates since 2010-11. It was having a real impact in our homes, on our roads and in our communities.
But since the release of the first Community Safety Statement, the crime rate has stabilised and begun to
decline. During 2017 the number of crimes reported and the rate of crimes per person in Victoria reduced by
a record number. These decreases are welcome. But they in no way diminish the harm and trauma experienced
by victims of crime.
We know that more needs to be done. It is the experience of victims that is at the heart of every effort detailed
in this statement. It's why we are focusing on sustaining our progress and giving Victoria Police everything they
need to target crime.
WHAT IS BEING DONE
MORE POLICE
3,135 new police • 300 police in stations across the state, boosting
local police visibility in communities
The Government’s investment in 3,135 extra
police, above and beyond filling regular turn over, • 208 family violence specialists, with the majority
means there will be more police on our streets and of them deployed across Victoria
responding to emergency calls for assistance. • 93 police in specialist commands and operational
The use of the Staff Allocation Model (SAM) to support areas such as counter-terrorism,
determine where police officers should be allocated intelligence and covert operations, and public safety
has taken the politics out of policing and ensured • 103 police to establish a parental leave program,
new police are deployed to those areas most in need. providing a level of flexibility to police rosters, and
By April 2018, 300 of these extra police will be the capacity to fill vacancies to sustain a high level
working in some of the busiest areas across the of community policing, and
state. In addition, 106 specialist police in areas such • 121 police to deliver a range of Community Safety
as organised crime and counter-terrorism will keep Statement 2017 initiatives – the Police Assistance
Victorians safe. The remaining police will be recruited, Line and Online Reporting portal, Air Wing
trained and fighting crime over the next four years. expansion, Police Academy support and leadership
This initial additional resourcing will add about development. The 42 new youth specialist officers
74,000 additional police shifts in future years. are also included in this group.
Last year alone, Victoria Police deployed 400 new Police Custody Officers
experienced police into additional specialist roles
In 2017, the Government committed to fast-tracking
with 40 extra Public Order Response Team members,
the deployment of 400 new Police Custody Officers
30 more anti-gangs squad members, and 14 more
(PCOs).
Special Operations Group members now protecting
our state. Already on the job, these 400 new PCOs have freed
up frontline police from managing people being held
In 2018/19, Victoria Police will deploy an additional
in custody, allowing them to get back to patrols and
825 police, informed by their SAM, as follows:
working in local communities.
24 |Many areas have already directly benefited from Early work is underway to develop an expanded
this increase in frontline police time, including: PSO footprint in places like shopping centres.
This work will also examine improvements to
• supporting new and existing taskforces
professional development and career pathway
• targeting repeat offending opportunities for PSOs.
• responding to family violence. MORE PROTECTION
New Protective Services Officers New security in Melbourne’s CBD
You told us that Protective Services Officers Following the Bourke Street tragedy, the
(PSOs) make you feel safer when travelling on Government invested heavily in security
trains at night. measures to protect people in Melbourne’s
In 2017, the Government invested in 100 extra central business district.
PSOs to expand their presence across the public In 2017, the Government funded the City of
transport network. Melbourne to begin installing bollards and
The first 25 additional PSOs are now employed, other protective structures at key locations
undertaking intelligence-led patrols of public around the city.
transport in the CBD. An emergency public address system and
In 2018, PSOs will begin working in mobile teams and additional CCTV cameras have also been installed
patrol different modes of public transport. Victoria in Melbourne’s CBD, to help police and other
Police will enhance PSO presence across the public emergency services to respond faster to threats
transport network and will work to target crime and and incidents.
anti-social behaviour and improve commuter safety. In 2018, the Government is continuing the
This model also gives us the foundation from which implementation of security measures in Melbourne’s
to expand the presence of PSOs beyond the public CBD, including Bourke Street Mall, Flinders Street
transport network, and into places such as shopping Station, Federation Square, Princes Bridge,
centres, malls and other places of mass gathering Southbank, Southern Cross Station, the State
where a highly visible police presence can deter Library of Victoria, Queen Victoria Market and
crime and reassure the community. Melbourne and Olympic Parks.
Offences per 100,000 people
10,000
8,750
7,500
6,250
5,000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Source: Crime Statistics Agency, Recorded Crime Statistics - YEAR ENDING 31 December 2017
| 25MORE PREVENTION Better responses to prevent and respond to family violence Family violence continues to be the number one law and order issue in Australia. The Royal Commission into Family Violence identified a range of areas for reform to better protect victims and hold perpetrators to account. The Victorian Government accepted every single one of these recommendations and, alongside Victoria Police, are working to fix the system. The new strategy, Policing Harm, Upholding the Right: Victoria Police Strategy for Family Violence, Sexual Offences and Child Abuse 2018-2023, identifies how Victoria Police specialists can help recognise the warning signs and respond to family violence, sexual offences and child abuse. This includes better focusing on victim safety, active management of offenders, prioritising child safety, and skilling up Victoria Police personnel in how they respond to family violence. This work will be boosted by the establishment of the Centre of Learning for Family Violence to deliver career-long training on family violence, commencement of the rollout of body-worn cameras, and finalising the policy required to collect secondary evidence and victim statements from family violence incidents. These efforts will ensure that the needs of victims are central to Victoria Police’s reform agenda. From 2018, 415 new police will take on family violence specialist roles in key locations across Victoria. With family violence taking up around 60 per cent of police time and officers called out to attend a family violence incident every seven minutes, these family violence specialists will provide victims with an improved response and help free up existing police to focus on other crime.
NEXT STEPS
WHAT WE'LL DELIVER
• new compulsory treatment for people with multiple and complex needs, including addiction,
who pose a threat to the safety of others
• introducing longer prison sentences and harsher penalties for drug dealers
• establishing new specialist police to fight technology enabled offending by serious
and organised criminals
• new laws to gain more intelligence and information on high-risk terrorist threats
• harsher penalties for drug and drink driving
• new programs to stamp out the root causes of crime.
MORE POLICE
Targeting organised crime and technology Cracking down on drug dealers
enabled crime
To crack down on the criminals who supply and
Technology is constantly changing the way serious profit from dangerous drugs, the Government
and organised criminals operate. It also changes will introduce new laws to help Victoria Police
how police must work to prevent, investigate, and investigate and prosecute drug dealers.
bring criminals to justice.
The Government will introduce legislation in
In 2018, the Government is working with Victoria early 2018 to reduce the quantities of heroin that
Police to strengthen their capabilities to fight qualify for charges of trafficking and commercial
technology enabled offending by serious and trafficking. Punishment for these offences will also
organised criminals. This includes funding for be strengthened. This complements reforms passed
extra specialist staff and technology to detect and in 2017 that give police greater powers to prosecute
prevent online child abuse, disrupt serious and ice traffickers and ban the sale and production of
organised crime, and conduct surveillance. synthetic drugs.
The use of advanced communication technologies, By cutting the supply of illegal drugs in our
online marketplaces and virtual currencies to community, Victoria Police will reduce the harm
facilitate serious and organised crime is growing. that drug use brings to people, their families
The use of new technology, as well as new specialist and communities. It also disrupts drug markets,
staff, will enable Victoria Police to better prevent, reduces drug-related violence, and targets the
investigate and dismantle serious and organised profits of drug criminals. Work will continue across
crime. Government to reduce demand for illegal drugs.
This will help protect Victorians from falling victim to
technology enabled crime and position Victoria as
a cyber-security leader.
By cutting the supply of illegal drugs in our community,
Victoria Police will reduce the harm that drug use brings
to people, their families and communities.
28 |MORE PROTECTION
Tackling terrorism • ensuring PSOs can work alongside police
to keep the community safe in the event of
To prevent violent extremism, the Government is a terrorist incident
investing in Victoria’s capability to prevent potential
terrorist threats and our ability to respond to • amending laws to include a presumption
incidents. These investments follow the advice of the against parole and bail for offenders with links
Expert Panel on Terrorism and Violent Extremism to terrorism.
Prevention and Response Powers. These new reforms will assist Victoria Police to
Prevention actions will see investment in: rapidly and more effectively respond to the threat
of terrorism to keep Victorians safe.
• expanding Community Support Group pilots
Making our roads safer
• boosting community resilience grants
Drug-affected drivers threaten the safety of all
• establishing an independent research body to
road users.
explore how to prevent violent extremism in
Victoria. In 2016, over a quarter of drivers and motorcyclists
killed on Victorian roads were found to have drugs
The Government will also work with the
in their system. The Government is working to stop
Commonwealth Government and the other states
the rising number of people who are driving under
and territories to:
the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• develop a new ‘possession of terrorism-related
In 2017, the Government introduced legislation
material’ offence
to create new offences for refusing a roadside
• consider amending the definition of 'terrorist act' drug test. The Government also strengthened
• seek national agreement for a post-sentence punishment for drug and drink-driving offences and
supervision scheme for high-risk terrorist introduced alcohol interlocks on vehicles for more
offenders. offences.
The Government will also introduce legislation in In 2018, the Government will further toughen
2018 to progress critical reforms from the Expert penalties for drink driving. This means first-time,
Panel. As part of these reforms, Victoria Police fully licensed drink drivers with a blood alcohol
powers to use lethal force when responding to reading between 0.05 and 0.07 and drink drivers
life-threatening situations will be clarified. The subject to a zero-blood alcohol condition, such as
recommended new measures will also include: professional drivers, will receive a mandatory three-
month licence cancellation.
• giving Victoria Police new powers to detain a
person for up to four days without the need On relicensing, they will also be required to install an
for a court order, and to question a person in alcohol interlock into their vehicle for a minimum of
preventative detention about a terrorist act six months.
• enabling police to exercise their special powers The Government will bring in tougher penalties for
for terrorist acts more effectively excessive speeding and unlicensed driving.
| 29The Government will also review the operation of The Government has committed $31.6 million to
laws relevant to suspension and cancellation of set up a Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC),
driver’s licences of people charged with serious underpinned by a partnership between specialist
traffic crimes, including those which have resulted in police and mental health clinicians. Together,
death. The review will examine whether the current they will identify high-risk people who may pose a
arrangements are enough to protect the safety of serious threat to the community, including terrorists
Victorian road users. and lone actors who have made ongoing threats to
others.
MORE PREVENTION
By bringing together experts from a range of fields,
Reducing drug harm
FTAC staff will be better placed to identify and
Drugs are hurting families and communities across intervene early, prevent violence and make sure
our state. these people receive the treatment they need -
before anything happens.
Illicit drugs are increasingly dangerous, with new
drugs leading to harmful overdoses and fatalities. In 2017, Victoria Police started recruiting staff and
establishing the FTAC. In early 2018, the Centre
We need to do more to support people to fight became fully operational and is expected to
their addiction, and reduce the harm that drug use assess around 300 people annually. Specialist
causes to individuals, families and communities. mental health and alcohol and other drug services
That’s why the Government is making sure will engage high-risk people so they receive
Victorians with drug addiction get the treatment appropriate and timely treatment.
they need, opening more than 200 new drug Through identification, risk assessment and
rehab beds – more than doubling the number of monitoring, FTAC will reduce the threat of terrorist
residential rehab beds in Victoria since we came and other serious violent offending in Victoria.
to office.
Stamping out the causes of crime
At the same time, the Government will introduce
tough new laws to provide compulsory treatment The Government is targeting the root causes of
to adults with complex needs, including those crime and anti-social behaviour in young people.
struggling with addiction and pose an
In 2018, Victoria Police will introduce an Embedded
unacceptable risk to the community.
Youth Outreach pilot in two sites, Wyndham and
Right now, some people who are a risk to their own south east Melbourne which involves police and
and others’ safety are falling through the gaps youth workers providing immediate assessment and
– our tough new laws will make sure they get the response to high-risk young people.
treatment they need.
To prevent at-risk young people from offending, the
In 2018, the Government is also examining an Government is funding new Community Support
appropriate role for Victoria Police in the planning Groups that bring together police, government
of events such as music festivals. This seeks to agencies, community leaders and community
promote community safety and prevent harm agencies in Brimbank/Melton, Wyndham and
related to drug use at these events. Greater Dandenong. These groups will identify
specific needs and create targeted prevention
The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre
programs such as homework clubs, leadership
Recent high-profile violent crimes have shown development programs, intergenerational forums,
us how, in some cases, people with multiple and mentoring, women’s empowerment programs,
complex needs, who have fallen through the capability building with local services and cultural
gaps can be a serious threat to the safety of the celebration events.
community.
30 |INCREASING CONNECTION
WITH THE COMMUNITY
The Government’s record $2 billion investment in Victoria Police will
see police even more visible on our streets and having an even greater
connection with the community.
The Government is making it easier for Victorians to contact police, by visiting a police station,
online, or by phone.
Connecting with local communities is also about listening to, and working with local communities.
It’s why the Government and Victoria Police are developing local solutions to local issues.
WHAT IS BEING DONE
MORE POLICE
Modernising police stations and building
new facilities
Victoria is Australia’s fastest growing state and Mernda Police Station
includes 80 per cent of our nation’s growth areas.
To respond to this growth, the Government is The recently opened 24 hour Mernda Police
upgrading or replacing 32 police stations and ten Station in Melbourne’s northern urban fringe is
police residences across the state, and has built a an example of a facility designed to address the
new police station at Mernda. This work ensures that needs of this rapidly growing community. The
police stations are best placed and best equipped to state-of-the-art facility brings together uniform
serve their communities. police and specialist units dedicated to fighting
family violence, sexual offences and child abuse.
Modernised stations are also better designed for
Officers are supported by new technology,
modern policing operations. They have greater
allowing access to up-to-the-minute information
capacity for technology and enable co-location of
and support when fighting crime in the local
specialist police, while also ensuring the separation
community.
of a victim or witness from an offender in the same
location. It is also ensuring better police responses across
the area including the township of Whittlesea.
During 2017, police station works were completed
at Mernda, Benalla, Churchill, Lakes Entrance,
Maffra, Moe, Sorrento and Warragul. This is further
to the works completed at Geelong police station
during 2016.
Over the next 12 months, Victoria Police will complete
upgrades to Rosebud, Portland and Mt Buller
police stations. A further six stations at Alexandra,
Rutherglen, Tangambalanga, Warracknabeal,
Wedderburn and Wycheproof will be upgraded, with
funding for these upgrades provided through the
Community Safety Statement 2017.
32 |You can also read
