In brief

Police officers remembered at state memorial

Nearly two years after the tragic incident that took their lives, Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Josh Prestney and Constable Glen Humphris were formally honoured at a State Memorial Service on 3 February.

The officers’ families, friends and colleagues were joined by hundreds of police, protective services officers (PSOs), Victorian Public Service (VPS) employees and community members to reflect on the lives, service and sacrifice of the four fallen police.

At the service, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton reflected on the strength shown by the loved ones of Lynette, Kevin, Josh and Glen, as well as the Victoria Police family.

“As a police family, we mourn the loss of our colleagues and we continue to grieve their loss,” CCP Patton said.

“What has got us through this though is the support we have received from other police and emergency services from across the nation and around the world.

“I can only imagine what this very public show of support meant to each of the families.”

Premier Daniel Andrews and Police Minister Lisa Neville also spoke at the service, before Lynette, Kevin, Josh and Glen’s families and colleagues made moving tributes to their loved ones.

Police, PSOs and VPS employees in attendance formed a guard of honour for the procession walk at the end as Lynette, Kevin, Josh and Glen’s families led their loved one’s images and caps out of the stadium.

Back to school for community engagement

Victoria Police is supporting schools to teach children about important safety issues such as cyber safety, road safety and who to talk to if they’re experiencing family violence.

As part of a renewed partnership with Victorian schools, a new Schools Engagement Model will involve specialist and frontline police officers working with schools to deliver crime prevention and safety messages to primary and secondary students across the state.

The new model, launched late last year, is part of Victoria Police’s broader focus on community engagement to build strong connections with young people and their families that help to keep the community safe.

“Community engagement is the cornerstone of policing,” Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said.

“Our relationships with young people and their families are central to this.

“This new model ensures every interaction with police is having the greatest impact on our young people.

“It sets us on a path that will see schools getting the best out of their police now and into the future.”

Police have been equipped with appropriate information and guidance on what engagement activities are most effective with schools to ensure interactions between police and students reflect good practice and address their specific issues.

The model enables a consistent approach across the state and was developed following consultation with educators, police, youth service providers and young people.

For more information about the Schools Engagement Model, visit police.vic.gov.au/youth

Scanning plates to save lives

The rollout of new technology, which allows police to scan around 45 million number plates per year, has been completed.

Automated number plate recognition (ANPR) technology has now been fitted to more than 200 highway patrol vehicles, providing Victoria Police with increased capability to detect unauthorised drivers putting lives at risk on Victoria’s roads.

It allows police to detect drivers who are suspended, disqualified or unlicensed, as well as unregistered and stolen vehicles and fraudulent number plates.

Registration information can also be matched against a database of vehicles of interest so they can be identified and removed from the road.

Unauthorised driving was a factor in around 10 per cent of fatal collisions in 2021, with police more determined than ever to stop the senseless loss of life.

“Automated number plate recognition technology gives us another set of eyes on the roads to stop unauthorised drivers in their tracks,” Assistant Commissioner Road Policing Glenn Weir said.

Since the first Victorian Police vehicle fitted with mobile ANPR hit the roads in February 2019, more that 112 million number plates have been scanned.

Police will continue to use the ANPR-fitted highway patrol vehicles in future road policing operations, with a focus on high-risk areas.

For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads, visit police.vic.gov.au/ road-safety-0