By Ava Cashmore
Berwick MP and opposition spokesperson for police, youth justice and crime prevention Brad Battin has described the number of unsolved crimes and falling police numbers as “giving the green light to the crooks“.
Speaking to the Pakenham Gazette at the Shadow Cabinet Community Lunch in Pakenham on Monday 25 March, he highlighted 64 per cent of residential aggravated burglaries remained unsolved during the year ending December 2023, representing a 16 per cent increase compared to 2022.
Mr Battin said the main issue was falling numbers of police officers on the ground.
“Police numbers are going backwards – that is an objective fact,“ he said.
“Police are doing the best they can, but they are just not being given the tools they need.
“This leaves too many crimes occurring, too many crimes going unsolved and too many victims.“
Mr Battin said a Liberal National Government would aim to provide the appropriate level of resources to Victoria Police.
“We need to relieve the pressure,“ he said.
“It needs a change in attitude.“
Mr Battin said his “focus is on Victoria Police”, hoping to fill “over 1000 vacancies across the state” within the police force.
The Opposition also criticised changes to the Bail Act which passed through Parliament recently, with the offence of ‘committing an indictable offence whilst on bail’ now abolished.
This provision, under section 30B of the Bail Act, meant that a person on bail who committed a serious or indictable offence faced a tougher test to get bail again.
Shadow Attorney-General Michael O’Brien said it was the wrong time to be weakening bail laws.
