Media Release

Leaked emails from several Yarra Ranges police officials have confirmed the dire state of staffing issues in Victoria. One of the emails, supplied by an unnamed source, identifies just how bad the crisis is, admitting there is a “critical staffing shortage in the Yarra Valley,” and highlighting the greater problem facing police across Victoria.

“There is no light on the horizon and we have reached the point where we cannot cover all shifts between the two stations. (7 shifts not covered this roster.) I understand there is no staff available for any backfills and we aren’t asking for that, but I would appreciate it if you could forward this email to your members as a way of an explanation why they will be doing jobs in our patch.”

Another email reveals that local cops expect the problem “to get worse before it gets better.”

“It’s got to the point where I am struggling to give my staff their rest days. As a result your crews will have to cover our area more than they have been. My members desperately don’t want to impose on you and your troops anymore than we have to but it’s unavoidable at the moment.”

Recent figures released show that while violent crime has reached record highs, there has been a 21 per cent drop in frontline police patrols since 2002. Furthermore, stats show that across suburbs and towns in Victoria, an average of one in five front line officers is not available for duty, with one out of every three currently missing in Mt Evelyn.

Local MP David Hodgett said the statistics speak for themselves. “Victoria is consistently last in Australia on police numbers and government spending on the police force, so it is hardly a surprise when police start pleading for help with tackling major staffing issues.”

“Since Labor has been in government, violent crime has risen more than 30 per cent. No wonder our cops are screaming for back up.”