Community safety will be restored to Lowan with 3,000 additional Victoria Police officers to be recruited under a Jess Wilson Liberal and Nationals government.
Under Labor, cops are down, but crime is up.
Under Labor, our population is growing but our police force is shrinking.
Police rosters have more than 1,500 vacancies, over 40 police stations are closing or operate on reduced hours – including in Lowan, where Stawell Police Station has recently announced reduced opening times. But criminal offending has surged to an all-time high and almost half of all crimes remain unsolved.
As part of the Liberals and Nationals’ Safer Communities Plan, a future Jess Wilson led Government will:
- Reopen the more than 40 police stations closed or operating on reduced hours under Labor.
- Recruit 3,000 additional Victoria Police officers.
Half of the 3,000 recruits will be made up of experienced police officers from the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand, replicating a successful scheme in Western Australia, with relocation allowances of $5,000 per successful applicant, backed by a recruitment campaign.
Dedicated recruitment teams will be established to fast-track applicant checks and multiple squads to be run simultaneously.
The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP, said there has been a spate of crime across the region including the rapid rise of car theft and vehicle break-ins, fuel theft from farms and a machete attack in Hamilton.
“Our local police are doing their very best but there are simply not enough resources to protect our community and combat rising crime,” she said.
“Only our Liberal and Nationals team has a comprehensive plan to end Labor’s crime crisis and keep Victorians safe.”