Only Labor Has a Real Plan to Recruit a Full Police Force
17,020 police officers.
That’s the number the Police Association says Victoria needs to have a full police force.
That’s what a re-elected Carroll Labor Government will deliver with a comprehensive plan for 1,500 more police.
The challenge isn’t funding or applications – they’re at record levels.
It’s recruitment and training bottlenecks.
To hire 1,500 more police and bring Victoria Police back to full force, Labor’s plan will:
• Open a new, permanent police academy in the western suburbs
• Support police with triple-squad graduations through metro and regional academies Bring in more trainers, upgrade facilities and speed up recruitment for ADF veterans and PSOs
Only Labor has a real plan for a full force.
The Liberal-One Nation Coalition claims to have a ‘plan’ for a full force.
But their plan is to recruit police from overseas – and make $40 billion in cuts.
A police academy in the west
Applications to become part of Victoria Police are at their highest levels in five years.
But we’re still hearing that the Glen Waverley academy is too far away from where many people want to train.
That’s why, if re-elected, we will open a second metro police academy – in Wyndham.
It will make it easier and cheaper for people to join the force and allows more recruits to train close to home.
Triple-squad recruitment
Double squads – 52 new members – are going through the academy in Glen Waverley each fortnight.
If re-elected, Labor will support Police with a plan to deliver triple-squad graduations.
This can happen at both metro academies and the two regional academies opening in Mildura and Gippsland.
Plus more practical support
To support more recruits through the academy, Labor will also:
• bring on more trainers and instructors
• upgrade facilities and accommodation for recruits
• make recruitment faster for people with transferable skills and experience like ADF veterans and PSOs
This all builds on the 200 extra PSOs and 400 reservists we’ve funded to get more police officers on the street.
It also builds on our pay rise for Victoria Police officers.
Only Labor has a comprehensive plan to hire 1,500 more police and get Victoria Police back to full force.
Quotes attributable to Premier Ben Carroll
“My priority is community safety – and 1,500 more police is the new direction I’m delivering as Premier.”
“Only Labor has a comprehensive plan to get Victoria Police back to full force and keep our community safe.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Paul Edbrooke
“Victoria has the largest police force in the country – but we still need more police.”
“Jess Wilson’s Liberal-One Nation Coalition just has a plan to cut $40 billion here and recruit police from overseas.”
Quote attributable to Member for Werribee John Lister
“A new academy in the west will keep costs down for new recruits and help them stay close to home.”
Quote attributable to Member for Tarneit Dylan Wight
“This will open up a career path for more Victorians from the western suburbs to serve their community.”
