A total of 10 new frontline constables have already commenced duty across the Goulburn Valley, including in Shepparton and Benalla, with an additional 11 constables starting before the end of the year.
A total of three additional shared divisional resources, including crime scene services officers and criminal investigators, are also already embedded within the community, which Acting Superintendent David Ryan said was a huge win for everyone involved.
“This is the most significant investment that has been in the Goulburn Valley ever in policing,” he said.
“The bolstering of numbers in the main hub here at Shepparton allows us to do a lot more in the community. Where we have struggled trying to just resource the shift-to-shift requirements, now we get opportunities with the extra resources to do more of the proactive work in the community.”
The strengthening of our local police comes after it was announced in March that the Shepparton, Benalla and Mitchell Police Service areas would receive 41 additional police over the coming year.
A total of 14 general duties police have been allocated for Shepparton along with seven shared divisional resources; however, Supt Ryan said there was a chance we could receive more.
“The increase by the government under the Community Safety Statement will continue through to the end of 2022, so hopefully we might pick up more resources,” he said.
“Crime is crime, it is always going to be there to some degree — our primary function is to help people who need assistance, and if we have got more resources available to go and help people, that’s a great thing.”
Supt Ryan said the additional hands would ensure members could look after certain areas of the community and spend time getting to know the people who frequent those places.
He said the availability to respond to family violence incidents would also be improved even further, with officers able to better conduct "intricate investigations" into repeat perpetrators.
These new police officers are in addition to 15 additional officers allocated to the Goulburn Valley Division in 2019/20 and two new officers in 2018/19.
“From a general duties perspective it’s about using our women and men who are working the vans, working the cars and working on foot patrol actually connecting back into the community,” Supt Ryan said.
“With extra resources, with extra minds thinking about these problems and tackling them, it will mean good outcomes for the community.”
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