A drastic drop in front-line police numbers has been linked to a steep increase in crime in the inner west.
Staffing levels at western suburbs police stations have plummeted since the last state election, according to police documents obtained by the
state opposition.
Hobsons Bay suffered Melbourne’s biggest drop, with staff down 30 per cent from 124 to 86.
The number of recorded offences rose by 28 per cent in the same period, from 5303 to 6771.
Staffing remained stable at 62 in Maribyrnong, which has recorded a 3 per cent drop in crime since the last election.
The documents reveal only six of Victoria’s 56 police service areas have more police now than in November 2010.
More than 20 areas have suffered cuts to frontline staffing of more than 20 per cent, but the government argues they are due to decisions made by
police command.
Williamstown MP and opposition police spokesman Wade Noonan said the government had failed on its pre-election commitment to address “undermanned” police stations, drawing a direct link between the loss of local police and an increase in crime rates.
“When Denis Napthine cuts $100 million from Victoria Police and cuts the number of officers on the beat, he cuts support to your community,” Mr Noonan said.
He said crime rates had skyrocketed in categories such as drug, assault, theft and weapons offences.
Statewide, total offences increased from 367,995 in 2009-10 to 406,497 in 2012-13, with significant increases in 26 of 31 crime categories.
Altona MP Jill Hennessy said local police were doing a great job with limited resources.
“Our police need more resources to do their job properly, not savage cuts like those experienced under this government.”
Police Minister Kim Wells said the chief commissioner was independently responsible for deciding where officers were located.
“Once again, state Labor is desperately misleading Victorians with alarmist claims about police numbers,” Mr Wells said.
“The facts are the Coalition government is on track to deliver 1700 additional front line police by November this year at a cost of $602 million.”
Mr Wells said there were 1525 more police than when Labor left office, with many officers allocated to areas such as crime command and road policing.
“If [Opposition Leader] Daniel Andrews and the Labor Party disagree with these allocations or don’t have confidence in [Chief Commissioner] Ken Lay, then they should say so.”
Mr Noonan said the 1700 additional police were included in Labor’s last budget, in 2010-11.
