Local Priority Policing

An new policing scheme - known as Local Priority Policing - aims to achieve greater community involvement in how police services are provided, better management of resources, and more police accountability.

The scheme was unveiled by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mr McGrath on September 16.

Key features of Local Priority Policing include:

• that the community will significantly influence what police services are provided;
• an extended process of community consultation will be formalised through a statewide network of municipality-aligned Local Safety Councils; and,
• previously centralised police resources and decision-making will be redirected to one of five new local police regions, each with its own local command and business management structure.

"Local Priority Policing includes the fundamental principle that rural communities are entitled to the same range and quality of police services as those provided in metropolitan areas," Mr McGrath said.

"The Local Priority Policing plan allows local police commanders to customise their services to meet the needs of country Victorians."

Mr McGrath said Local Priority Policing also complemented the wide-range of State Government programs, including the VICsafe Community Safety and Crime Prevention Strategy, the Safer Cities and Shires program and the Rural Victoria 2001.

(News Release, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, September 14, 1998)