In short:
More than 450 former police officers have applied for new reservist roles with Victoria Police, aimed at reducing station counter workloads and freeing sworn officers for frontline duties. The move comes amid ongoing concerns about police staffing shortages and crime pressures in growth areas including Wyndham and Melbourne’s west
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Plan to Free up More Officers
Former police officers are lining up to return to Victoria Police in a newly-created reservist role aimed at easing pressure on frontline staffing, with more than 450 expressions of interest lodged within a week of applications opening.
Victoria Police is seeking to recruit 200 reservists to work station counter and administrative roles, including answering phones, handling paperwork, taking crime reports and processing exhibits.
The positions are only open to former officers who have previously served with police forces in Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom.
The move comes as Victoria Police faces ongoing pressure over workforce shortages and rising demand across parts of Melbourne’s outer suburbs, including Wyndham, where crime and community safety concerns have become a growing political issue.
Retired Officers to Take Over Admin Duties
Under the proposal, reservists would take over a significant amount of station-based work currently performed by sworn officers.
Victoria Police analysis shows officers spend more than 4000 hours per day staffing station counters across the state, equivalent to around 1.4 million hours annually.
Critics are likely to view the recruitment drive as further evidence of the strain on frontline policing resources, particularly in growth areas where population increases have outpaced infrastructure and staffing.
Wyndham residents have repeatedly raised concerns about police visibility, response times and youth crime, with the municipality among the fastest-growing regions in Australia.
Pressure to Solve Statewide Shortages
The state government and Victoria Police have faced ongoing scrutiny over whether enough operational officers are being deployed to Melbourne’s west.
The reservist roles will not involve general frontline policing duties, with successful applicants instead based inside police stations during weekday shifts between 7am and 7pm.
The positions carry a full-time salary of $86,188 annually, with both part-time and full-time options available.
Victoria Police says streamlined training will be provided due to applicants already having prior policing experience.
The first reservists are expected to begin in coming months, pending legislation currently before State Parliament.
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