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SUMMER 2020-21
Serving siblings Policing has become a family business for three sisters who are all forging careers with Victoria Police, despite taking different paths to the job.
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High and low The teamwork of Victoria Police’s Air Wing and Dog Squad is leaving offenders with few places to hide.
COVER: Senior constables Julian Mancini, Bianca Woods and Matilda Gledhill are part of Victoria Police’s new approach to negotiations at critical incidents. Photography: John Pallot Police Life is produced by the Media & Corporate Communications Department, Victoria Police, GPO Box 913, Melbourne, 3001 Online police.vic.gov.au/policelife facebook.com/victoriapolice twitter.com/victoriapolice Email policelife-mgr@police.vic.gov.au Managing Editors Superintendent Jo Dolan Acting Superintendent Justin Goldsmith
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An important pitstop A chance meeting with a young man struggling with his mental health turned a police officer’s coffee break into a special call-out.
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Planning for equality and inclusion Victoria Police’s Gender Equality and Inclusion Command is like no other in the force and it has a new vision for its future.
Editor Grant Condon Journalists Danielle Ford Jesse Wray-McCann Roslyn Jaguar Emily Wan Graphic Design Fluid – fluid.com.au
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ISSN 0032-2598L Crown Copyright in the state of Victoria. For permission to reprint any part of this magazine, contact the editor. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Victoria Police.
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24 Teenage crime
In Brief By the Numbers Out and About Behind the Badge
Youth street gangs met their match when Victoria Police launched Operation Wayward, with hundreds of arrests made.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER the police effort to keep the community safe, firstly from bushfires and subsequently from coronavirus (COVID-19), often at significant personal risk. However, our broader community safety efforts have also continued throughout this period. The crime statistics for the year ending 30 June 2020 show police arrested more offenders than ever before, remanded offenders where appropriate and have now served over 500 Firearm Prohibition Orders on high-harm, high-impact criminals. We have also been developing the organisation to better reflect the community we serve and the services we deliver. The articles in this edition of Police Life showcase many of these efforts, including:
2020 has challenged all of us in our work and private lives. Overwhelmingly, Victorians have responded responsibly and considerately. The demands of this unprecedented year have also impacted Victoria Police. Much of the community and media focus on Victoria Police has been on
• The trial of trained negotiators working closely with general duties police to respond to incidents involving people experiencing a mental health episode.
POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21
I wish you a safe and happy summer.
• The introduction of the Gender Equality and Inclusion Command and its new framework. • A profile on Halls Gap, one of the first 16-hour stations to be staffed solely by female officers. • Air Wing and Dog Squad combining for operations.
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There is also an article on what policing may look like in 2050. Thinking about and anticipating future community safety needs is critical. I have created a Service Delivery Transformation Command to examine the policing services the community requires and how best we deliver them. This Command will consult widely with the community, other agencies and our workforce. We have started this process by reviewing current police involvement in schools. Engaging with young people enables us to intervene early in offending and victimisation, and instil trust and positive attitudes towards police. Schools are a key location for police involvement and the Department of Education a key partner. I plan to launch a contemporary program that makes a demonstrable difference to young lives in early 2021.
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