Thursday, 2 April 2026

 Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (19:30): (2490) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Police regarding the shortage of police in the western suburbs, in my region. Community safety is a shared responsibility and our region in Melbourne’s west is currently facing pressure that requires urgent, practical actions. The action I seek is for the minister to prioritise addressing the frontline policing staff shortage and ensuring that the Western Metropolitan Region, which includes my electorate, receives the necessary resources. Local council has voiced similar concerns. The mayor of Brimbank has indicated she has formally and informally urged the Allan government to address the shortage of police resource and ensure that officers are in our community and can respond properly, prevent crime and rebuild public confidence.

Recent Victorian crime stats show another record rise in crime reports, up 4 per cent on the previous year. Having adequate resources and numbers of police on patrol, improving response capabilities and enhancing preventative policing will help restore community confidence and safety in our neighbourhoods. This is not just about placing blame, it is about delivering the police presence, visibility and capabilities that our communities need and deserve. Last year alone over 332 full-time officers left the service. We are facing 1500 police vacancies, and that number continues to rise. In my electorate Brimbank lost over 25 police officers last year, the largest drop in the state. The police service area currently holds 126 full-time officers, down from 151. Moonee Valley is not far behind, having 15 full-time officers leaving. Hume lost 14 full-time officers. Wyndham Vale lost eight full-time officers. Maribyrnong lost three full-time officers. My community is grappling with a record crime crisis. The statistics confirm they are troubling numbers, with an exodus of police leaving the force, the crime rate continuing to rise across the state and 24-hour police stations closing down and reducing hours. I recently visited Keilor Downs police station. It is opening 9:45 to 5:45 three days a week. Since Jacinta Allan became Premier, there are 370 police officers less than before. Police are closing down. So could the minister please step up, take some action and put an end to this ongoing exodus of police officers from the Victorian police force?