ANNUAL REPORT 2017- 2018 Victoria Police pay respect to the traditional owners of lands on All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be which we live and work. We pay our respects to Elders and all reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who continue to form or by any means without the prior written permission of the care for their country, culture and people. State of Victoria (through Victoria Police). Authorised and published by Victoria Police. ISSN 2202-9672 (Print) Victoria Police Centre ISSN 2202-9680 (Online) 637 Flinders Street, Docklands VIC 3008 www.police.vic.gov.au Published September 2018 Print managed by Finsbury Green. This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication Designed by Bite Visual Communications Group. is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your This publication is available in PDF format on the internet at particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any www.police.vic.gov.au error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Consistent with the DataVic Access Policy issued by the Victorian Government in 2012, relevant information included in this Annual Report will be available at www.data.vic.gov.au in electronic readable format. © State of Victoria (Victoria Police) 2018 2 VICTORIA POLICE ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 CONTENTS FOREWORD FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER 2 1. ABOUT VICTORIA POLICE 4 2. OUR PERFORMANCE 8 3. YEAR IN REVIEW 21 4. APPENDICES 35 5. FINANCIALS 91 VICTORIA POLICE ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 1 FOREWORD FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER In accordance with the Financial Management Act Ongoing investment will strengthen the capability for our 1994, I am pleased to present the Victoria Police workforce. We are continuing the recruitment of 2,729 general Annual Report for the 2017-2018 financial year. and specialist police and 100 Protective Services Officers. We are also rolling out upgrades to infrastructure and In 2017 Victoria experienced the most significant drop in equipment, including new Alcohol and Drug Testing Vehicles to crime in the 12 years of data examined by the independent improve road safety and the opening of Mernda Police Station. Crime Statistics Agency. This is undoubtedly a remarkable These measures will assist Victoria Police to strengthen our development, reinforcing positive changes over the last response to important issues including crime prevention, road 12 months and provides an impetus to continue our reforms safety, counter-terrorism and management of public order. and projects to promote a safe, secure and orderly Victoria. The communities that we serve are diverse, we engage on Victoria Police remains committed to reducing road trauma and a daily basis with all community groups and through this enhancing safety on our roads. Victorians are working with engagement we continue to strengthen our policing response. us to achieve this, with data indicating that 99.9 per cent of Engaging with youth is particularly crucial in understanding drivers tested complied with alcohol limits and 99.8 per cent the changes in the nature of offending and how we can better of drivers tested by a road safety camera complied with posted support young people to connect with their communities. For speed limits. This year the number of reported fatalities on this reason a broad range of initiatives are being implemented Victorian roads decreased by 28 compared with 2016-17 and across government to address the causes and consequences the number of injuries and collisions decreased to the lowest of youth offending. In October 2017, a second Chief recorded numbers over the past five years. Commissioner’s Youth Summit was held to identify opportunities to support young people to transition into employment and to This year, Victoria Police has continued implementation of a foster a shared understanding of the critical issues affecting modernisation program which provides the right skills, equipment youth employment. and technology across the organisation to meet the community’s expectations on public safety. There has been a continued focus At the forefront of our decisions is the endeavour to protect the on improving responses and practices to respond effectively to safety and wellbeing of our people. Victoria Police continues perpetrators and victims of family violence, sexual offences or to manage, coordinate and educate employees to improve child abuse. We have also maintained a focus on the important safety awareness across the workplace. This year the total issues of diversity, gender and inclusion by continuing to address number of occupational health and safety work place incidents issues called out by VEOHRC and prioritising the mental health decreased by 12 per cent compared with last financial year. of current and former employees. A new anti-bullying framework is being developed to reinforce the importance of preventing and addressing inappropriate The Victoria Police Capability Plan 2016-2025 (Capability behaviours in the workplace. This will help to promote and Plan), in its second year of implementation, outlines the protect the mental health of employees, and complements current capabilities we need to be an effective police force now and work to deliver cultural change across the organisation to ensure in the future. The Plan provides us with a clear strategic vision safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces. based on changing needs within Victoria Police and across our communities to guide our reform and investment decisions. The Capability Plan has allowed us to maximise the benefits of the continued, substantial investment from the Victorian Government through the Community Safety Statement. We are grateful to the Government for their significant investment in Victoria Police, making our modernisation possible. 2 VICTORIA POLICE ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 As part of our efforts to modernise policing, Victoria Police is Women are represented and contribute across almost all rolling out major technological transformation projects. Since facets of Victoria Police. This includes general duties policing, October 2017 Mobile Technology has equipped police in investigation of serious crimes, protective services, the Critical the field with more immediate access to information. This is Incident Response Team, and senior and executive leadership helping to create safer communities through more informed roles. It is a positive development to see more women joining and responsive policing, and improved crime detection and Victoria Police, making a positive impact in our workforce and prevention. The rollout of Body Worn Cameras will continue to communities. To provide more support to women, over 30 improve evidence capture of police incidents, increasing the Women in Policing Local Committees have been established safety of police and confidence in the community. across different regions, departments and commands. These committees provide female employees a safe and constructive Victoria Police is committed to creating a safe and inclusive forum to raise relevant workplace issues. work culture. We are investing in the development of leaders, both operational and Victorian Public Sector employees, and We continue to reform and modernise our police force to working on key strategies and action plans to address respectful meet current and future challenges. It is an honour to serve the and inclusive work practices. We are committed to community Victorian community and we remain committed to our focus engagement through our work with young people and ethnic on reducing harm, working more closely with victims and minorities, and are supporting human rights awareness across all connecting to improve community safety. Victoria Police training and education opportunities. In 2017 we were proud to mark the historic milestone of 100 years of women in policing. It is important to acknowledge and celebrate the significant contribution women have made to Victoria Police. Through strong executive leadership, Graham Ashton AM Victoria Police is continuing to drive cultural reform across the organisation to address gender inequalities within Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police the organisation. 30 August 2018 VICTORIA POLICE ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 3 1. ABOUT VICTORIA POLICE • Leadership – are approachable and consistent when Our Organisation dealing with colleagues, partners and the community, Victoria Police has been working to keep Victoria safe since apply fair process and strongly commit to the values of 1853. The agency provides services 24 hours a day, seven the organisation. Guide, trust, develop and empower days a week, to over 6.3 million1 Victorians. Police and colleagues, make timely decisions that are guided by both Protective Services Officers (PSOs) are present in all communities values and evidence, inspire participation and commitment across Victoria – providing a representation of community through a shared vision. safety and criminal deterrence. Police and PSOs are supported • Flexibility – are open minded and adaptive to change, in their roles by public service professionals who work as adopt an attitude of continuous improvement, encourage administrators, managers and specialists in a range of functions creativity, build partnerships with our community, welcome such as Police Custody Officers, prisoner management, legal difference and practice