Melbourne Police Announce Community Reset after Heavy Presence During Lockdown and Mandate Protests

Australians protesting against government-mandated health restrictions, increasing powers, and the Pandemic Bill in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 6, 2021. Supplied

The Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton announced initiatives to strengthen relationships between communities and police following heavy police presence against protestors during the Victorian COVID-19 lockdown and vaccine measures from 2020 to 2021.

“The global pandemic took up a lot of our focus over the last two years,” Patton said. “It’s time to reset and reconnect with the community.”

“Our new back-to-basics approach is about making sure we’re listening to the community and tackling the issues they care about.”

As part of the now state-wide Neighbourhood Policing model, police will be engaging with the “local community to strengthen relationships, share intelligence and find out what issues people care about most,” with officers tasked to address these concerns and report back to residents on what’s being done.

Police will also be partnering with local councils, community groups and government agencies for complex issues, and other initiatives such as local safety committees and forums are being set up so that members can directly engage with the local police.

The Victorian Police highlighted that their recent efforts have reduced local robberies following increased patrols, have stopped illegal beach parties, offences in retail precincts, with police involvement expected to grow around train stations and schools.

A community survey has been opened to the public by the state’s police force to capture the communities’ sentiments around the state’s police and how they want the police to engage with them.

“Delivering on this commitment not only means we can get on top of issues before they become more serious but make people feel safe to go about their everyday business,” Patton said.

The Victorian Labor Government funded the initiative making “record policing investments” and have delivered an additional 3135 police across the state.

The news of these initiatives comes following reports and footage of heavy police presence during COVID-19 protests from 2020 to 2021.

According to the Victorian Police, at the height of Victoria’s pandemic response, more than 1600 police and protective service officers were involved in COVID-19 activities, but figures have now decreased to around 50 as the state comes out of the pandemic.

In 2021 there were reports of riot police being deployed at lockdown protests in Melbourne, as well as arrests made on protestors.

Online live streamer Rukshan Fernando has previously captured video footage of police deploying tear gas, rubber pellets and tough lockdown tactics upon anti-vaccine mandate and anti-lockdown protestors during Victoria’s lockdowns and mandates in 2021.

The ALP-funded community initiatives come during election season, with the 2022 federal budget released by the Coalition conservative government.

The Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese, delivered his 2022 budget reply on March 31, challenging the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, to call for elections now.

The Australian Federal Elections are expected to be held in mid-May.