Highway patrol police to work alone in ‘backflip’ that has angered union

A plan by Victoria Police to reintroduce highway patrols involving just one officer has sparked safety concerns for members from the powerful police union. Assistant Commissioner Mick Hermans confirmed on Tuesday the force was set to overhaul its current policy that requires officers to work two-up on most highway patrols. The practice of lone patrols had been abandoned by Victoria Police following the murder of an officer during a late-night intercept in the Yarra Ranges and a series of recommendations by a coronial inquest into the death in 2010.

Hermans said the proposed change would boost the police presence on Victorian roads but insisted it was not a response to the resourcing and vacancy issues that prompted a recent reduction in reception hours at over 40 stations across the state. He said the same number of members would be used under the plan, which would require one-up officers to “proximity patrol”, meaning they are deployed near other on duty cars. “A highly visible police presence provides a significant general deterrence and will lead to less road trauma.

“The health and safety of our members remains the number one priority of Victoria Police. “It’s important to make clear this potential activity will first involve engagement with the workforce and include occupational health and safety assessments,” Hermans said. “The proposed change is not because of vacancy numbers – the same number of police would be deployed.”

An “opt-in” trial with the State Highway Patrol would help refine the policy, according to Hermans, which could be extended to local highway patrol squads. The current two-up policy was introduced following the coronial inquiry into the murder of Senior Constable Anthony Clarke, who was shot with his own revolver in 2005, while working alone in Launching Place, east of Melbourne. In 2010, an inquest into Clarke’s death recommended the practice of lone patrols be abolished, particularly those involving high-risk activities such as drink-driver, late night and remote area intercepts.

“I find that the fact that the police officer was working alone or ‘one up’ in the circumstances as described on 24 April 2005 was one of a number of contributing factors to the death of Senior Constable Anthony Hogarth Clarke,” said then coroner Kim Parkinson. While Victoria Police argue the policy change will increase visibility with the same number of officers on duty, it has angered Police Association chief executive Wayne Gatt who claims members will be exposed to greater risk and in some cases deliberately targeted by criminals and sovereign citizens. “One-up patrols in Victoria Police ceased because the safety of our members was rightly prioritised over perceived efficiency derived out of working shifts alone.

“Tony Clarke wasn’t the first member of ours to be killed in the line of duty while working solo. After the coroner’s recommendation to end ‘one-up patrols’ was accepted by Victoria Police more than a decade ago, we had hoped he would be the last,” Gatt said. “Since Coroner Parkinson’s recommendation was made, the dangers in policing have grown exponentially.

If you think that this change in policy won’t be present in the minds of criminals wishing to do our members harm, you don’t know how criminals think.” Gatt said those behind the policy shift would “be made to answer for the consequences” of any officer seriously injured or worse as a result of the change. “Winding back the safety of police to achieve an inconsequential shift in public perception of road safety is a high-risk, low-reward gamble.”

Opposition Police spokesman Brad Battin also slammed the plan, which he blamed on the Allan government’s failure to recruit and retain officers. “Victoria is experiencing a sharp increase in violent crime, with police officers facing growing levels of aggression and assault while carrying out their duties. This is precisely the wrong time to weaken the protections put in place to keep them safe,” Battin said.

“The crime statistics are clear: communities with fewer police officers and reduced police station hours are experiencing some of the biggest increases in crime. Victorians deserve better, and so do the police officers who put themselves in harm’s way every day.” Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights.

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