Victoria Police says it will double recruit intake, adding 1,300 trainees a year to address more than 1,500 vacancies.
Fresh pressure is mounting on Victoria Police as it moves to fill more than 1,500 vacancies statewide.
The service says it will double its recruit intake, with 650 more trainees to be trained each year at the police academy, bringing the figure to 1,300.
The expanded program will run through the 25-week fast-track training model, with Misryoum reporting that 52 recruits will be inducted every two weeks until further notice.
For many communities, the size and stability of the workforce can shape how responsive policing feels on the ground, especially when demand is rising.
Victoria Police said the hiring push comes as it struggles to address open positions during a period when crime levels in the state are at their highest in a decade.. Misryoum notes that the latest figures released in March pointed to increases that included youth crime, car thefts and family violence.
Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said the increased intake is intended to support “the hardworking frontline.” He framed the move as a way to bring more officers into day-to-day duties while also backing retention of experienced staff.
In this context, recruitment targets and training pipelines are often as much about planning capacity as they are about numbers, since it takes time for recruits to become fully operational.
The force also highlighted efforts to keep existing officers in the job, including steps aimed at reducing what it described as unnecessary, burdensome paperwork. Misryoum reports that Victoria Police said it is making addressing vacancies a priority.
Victoria Police added that it has moved its entrance exam online and waived it for applicants who have recently worked as firefighters, paramedics, or in defence roles.
At the end, the question for the public will be how quickly the expanded intake translates into more officers available to respond, and whether retention measures help keep that momentum steady.