THE latest Community Safety Statement Assurance Report has today been released, which shows more police officers are on the beat, tougher laws are starting to bite, and crime is falling.
Minister for Police Lisa Neville recently joined Ron Iddles OAM APM, the Community Safety Trustee, for the release, with the report highlighting the important work done to strengthen Victoria Police, crack down on crime and deliver better community safety outcomes for Victorians.
Ms Neville said, “We’re turning around a six-year trend as crime continues to fall across Victoria, with thousands more police to hit the beat over the coming years alongside new laws to keep the community safe.”
The trustee is tasked with monitoring the progress of the delivery of the initiatives funded in the Andrews Labor Government’s Community Safety Statement. Out of the 60 initiatives the Trustee examined in his report, more than half (31) have been completed or closed, with 29 measures underway and progressing well.
Some of the initiatives already delivered include the rollout of Police Custody Officer Supervisors, tougher firearms laws and stronger bail laws for serious offences.
These reforms are starting to have a real impact, with a 9.5 per cent decrease in the crime rate, according to data from the independent Crime Statistics Agency for the 12 months to 31 March 2018.
Victoria Police is also deploying mobile technology to officers on the frontline, a cutting-edge intelligence system that can analyse more than 86 million records in a matter of seconds, and body worn cameras to 61 police stations.
Ms Neville said, “I’d like to thank the Community Safety Trustee for his tireless work and oversight, which is delivering a stronger, safer Victoria.”
