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Melina Bath urges Allan government to reject solo policing and prioritise officer safety amid Victoria’s crime crisis

Melina Bath urged the Allan government to abandon plans for solo policing, warning it would put officers at risk. She called for improved police resourcing and said the Nationals would recruit 3,000 more officers while expanding training capacity.

By news@gippsland - 13th July 2026 - Back to News

The Allan government must immediately rule out a return to one up policing and put community safety and officer welfare ahead of cost cutting measures. The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath said Labor’s plan to return to solo policing is a direct consequence of its appalling financial mismanagement on Big Build projects.

Melina Bath said families deserve officers returning home safely, urging Labor to reject solo policing and instead recruit 3,000 more police officers

Solo policing concerns

Ms Bath said, "Victoria’s police officers put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe and the Allan government is abandoning them to save a dollar. Our state is in a crime crisis with weapons offences, aggravated burglaries, carjackings and fire bombings now commonplace. With police operating in an increasingly dangerous environment, Labor should be focused on protecting officers - not pursuing a policy that could leave them facing high risk situations alone."

Ms Bath said family members of Victorian Police Officers deserve the confidence that their loved ones will return home safely at the end of every shift. "More than a decade ago, the Victorian Coroner concluded that one up policing could not be conducted safely. "It is deeply concerning that Labor is entertaining a return to a policing model that was comprehensively assessed and ultimately deemed unsafe."

Police safety plan

Ms Bath said, "The Nationals have a clear plan to improve officer and community safety by boosting police numbers by 3,000 - we will also address the recruitment blockages creating significant delays in officer training at the Victorian Police Academy.

"If the Premier wants to save money, she should start with the billions wasted on Big Build corruption that has occurred under her watch. The Allan government must rule out a return to one up policing, focus on properly resourcing Victoria Police and support the brave officers who keep our communities safe," she said.

Pictures from Melina Bath MP Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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