Victoria Police Satisfaction Plummets After Lockdown Brutality
The Report on Government Services for 2023 published by Victoria’s Productivity Commission has shown public satisfaction with Victoria Police has plummeted to a five-year low. This is hardly surprising if you remember in 2020 and 2021 we saw Victoria Police brutality against lockdown and freedom protesters with no consequences for those officers who committed this violence against people they take an oath to serve and protect.
The report was based on responses from those who personally interacted with the Victoria Police with 13.9 per cent of 3949 Victorians who had contact with police over the past year being dissatisfied, over 7 per cent believe Victoria Police lack professionalism, 8.9 per cent believed Victoria Police were dishonest and 14.9 per cent do not believe Victoria Police treat people fairly and equally.
Victoria Police met covid lockdown protests and dissidents with excessive force which involved peppy spray, body slamming, head stomping, and even firing rubber bullets. Mind you these protesters were actually mostly peaceful unlike the Black Lives Matter and Antifa mobs we see in America.
Victoria Police have paid compensation to an Age Photographer and Rebel News security guard they brutalized who were covering lockdown protest yet the officers involved were not disciplined.
While Victoria Police had the resources to brutally suppress anti-lockdown protests it has been more difficult for them to suppress actual violent crimes such as youth gang home invasions, carjackings and street fights. They also still have the resources to employ LGBT Liason Officers who attend all of the local LGBT events.
Personally, when I hear police sirens I don’t feel safer instead anxious even though I believe I’m not doing anything wrong, I’m sure I’m not the only one based on their conduct these past three years. Given this increasing dissatisfaction with Victoria Police it is not a surprise Victoria Police is experiencing a recruitment drought coupled with early retirements.