Question details
Eastern Victoria Region
(985) My question is to the Minister for Police. Respected police sergeant Sergeant Brinkman recently told our community:
The reality is Victoria Police are shuffling resources. 24/7 watchhouses are shutting in places like Moe …
He said:
We always push for additional resources …
We know that crime in Eastern Victoria Region is rising to record levels, and our valued VicPol staff are increasingly under-resourced. Latrobe has the second-highest criminal incident rate and the second-highest recorded offence rate in Victoria.
Minister, in relation to watch houses, they provide a very important element – they hold alleged criminals for short periods of time before hearings, mental health assessments and for processes. Given the lack of resources and the closing of our watch houses, my constituent wants to understand what further watch houses are being closed in Eastern Victoria Region, for how long and in what spaces, and what are you specifically doing to stop criminals being released back onto our streets?
I can confirm that the quote you refer to in your question is a misquote, and this has been addressed with the journalist involved. Your question relates to temporary reception suspensions, which are operational decisions made by Victoria Police. I can confirm that there have been no watch house closures in Eastern Victoria, and that changed counter hours have no effect on custodial facilities in the Eastern Victoria region.
In November 2023, Victoria Police announced that counter service hours were changing at some police stations across the state during off-peak periods, which is predominantly at night when counters are rarely attended by the public. Community safety is Victoria Police's number one priority and police work around the clock to protect and serve everyone living in Eastern Victoria.
Victoria Police is constantly reviewing police numbers, levels of offending and peak times when police are required, and as such, there are times that stations suspend counter services to enhance the mobile response capability to calls for assistance.
During these periods, phones are diverted to another police station to ensure the public can speak to a police officer. Police continue to patrol local areas, providing a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week response to calls for assistance.
Hon Anthony Carbines MP
Minister for Police
Minister for Crime Prevention
Minister for Racing