Frontline cut as police fight court case and booze buses plagued with faults

Victoria Police are lurching from one crisis to another under this State Government.

Last week Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton confirmed 100 Victoria Police staff, including detectives, have been pulled off the frontline to assist in the response to the Lawyer X Royal Commission.

At the same time reports have confirmed Daniel Andrews’ troubled-plagued booze and drug buses will be off the road for at least another 3 months.

Shadow Minister for Police David Southwick said it was also confirmed that Victoria Police have received no additional funding to cover the $1.5 million a month cost of the Royal Commission, resulting in cuts to police overtime and volunteer duties to cover the funding shortfall.

With serious crime such as shootings, drug offences and carjackings all on the increase, any reduction in frontline policing services is simply unacceptable.

In a media release dated 7 March 2019, Minister for Police Lisa Neville told Victorians the roll-out of 10 new, state-of-the-art drug and alcohol buses was complete.

Despite Labor’s claims, six of the buses have been sidelined due to basic safety faults, timelines for delivery have blown out by at least another 3 months and repair costs are sitting at $1 million and counting.

With Victoria’s road toll currently at 151, a 54.1% increase on last year and the highest rate over 14 years, the ongoing delays in getting these buses on the road is simply unacceptable.

Comments attributable to David Southwick MP, Shadow Minister for Police:

“Labor have left Victoria Police to pick up the check for the Royal Commission resulting in unacceptable cuts to frontline Policing services.”

“Daniel Andrews must step up and provide additional resources so there are no more cuts to frontline policing services and ensure community safety is not compromised.”

“Tragically there are no second chances with road safety and every day these buses are off the road is another day Victorian lives are placed at risk.”

“Daniel Andrews’ botched rollout of these drug and alcohol buses has left Victoria Police without the resources required to keep our roads safe.”

Please download this press release as a PDF