A message from the Chief Commissioner

Welcome to the first issue of Police Life for 2023. I hope that, like me, you are looking forward to the year ahead.

You may have seen or heard in the media recently that Victoria Police is in the midst of a recruitment drive.

This might not come as a surprise, but I consider policing to be the best job in the world. A career with Victoria Police opens doors to so many different roles. You could be a detective, a prosecutor or a negotiator.

You could help victims of family violence, you could keep our roads safe as a member of Highway Patrol, or play a key role in tackling crime and safety issues in your local community. And there’s no better time than now to join our policing family.

This edition of Police Life features the stories of two of our members who pursued very different career pathways before joining Victoria Police – one worked in beauty therapy, the other in mining.

Their stories demonstrate that our workforce – whether it be our police, our Victorian Public Service employees, our protective services officers or police custody officers – come from all walks of life.

The diversity of experience within our workforce is highly valued and is critical to our delivery of a safe Victoria.

The fascinating and varied work that our people undertake is also featured in this edition. This includes the work of the Major Collision Investigation Unit, which goes beyond the investigation at the roadside to include support for the families of collision victims through the investigation and court processes.

The success of Taskforce Achilles in clamping down on hoon drivers is also highlighted. The taskforce’s members, many of them former mechanics, are relentless in their pursuit of hoon drivers.

In the 2021-2022 financial year, Achilles charged 240 offenders, impounded 155 vehicles and issued 766 fines.

Finally, the varied and rewarding work of our regional frontline police is captured in the story on Buloke Shire, where 10 police officers work across six police stations, covering 8000 square kilometres.

With 6200 residents, the Buloke Shire population is widely dispersed, but the local police pride themselves on being deeply embedded in their community.

Being visible and accessible to community members – and listening to their concerns – is something I am passionate about, so it’s great to see that in practice in Buloke.

There’s no doubt that working with Victoria Police offers more variety, more challenges and more purpose.

And that’s the crux of our recruitment campaign, “Made for More”, which features one of our very own senior constables at the front and centre of our advertising (pictured below).

If you are looking for something more, I invite you to apply to join us. An extraordinary career awaits.

Stay safe.

– Chief Commissioner Shane Patton