Victoria Premier announces 120 more cops on streets

Victoria Premier John Brumby has announced that the State Government would put an additional 120 full-time police officers on the streets to help make the Victorian public safer.

"Today I am announcing that our Government will fund $47 million for a net increase of 120 additional police to give Chief Commissioner, Simon Overland the flexibility he needs to deploy even more police to trouble spots," an Australian High Commission press release in New Delhi quoted Brumby, as saying.

"Simply put, Victoria Police will now have more capabilities to send a specialist squad of trained officers into any trouble area at any time, to restore public order and keep the community and streets safe. In addition to extra funding for more police, we are also giving police stronger powers to combat violence and antisocial behaviour," he added.

"By combining extra police numbers, with extra police powers, Victoria Police will be able to strengthen their work in targeting assaults, the use of weapons and alcohol related crime on the streets," Brumby said.

"Our Government is taking action to make our communities and our entertainment precincts safer for all Victorians. The 120 additional police will help tackle violence, but we all have a role to play in making our state safe," he said.

The recruitment of new officers will start in November this year and will first start hitting the streets in the first half of 2010. The 120 additional police and new powers come on top of a range of actions taken by the Victorian Government, including: improved CCTV and security around transport hubs.