Victoria Police is grappling with widespread staffing shortages that are affecting service delivery across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, with Southbank Police Station forced to dramatically reduce its public counter hours.
The station has slashed its front desk service from 24-hour availability to just 8.15am to 3.45pm daily, a move Senior Sergeant Alex O’Toole described as “a compromise that is unavoidable at this point in time with police numbers.”
The staffing crisis is not isolated to Southbank. According to Snr Sgt O’Toole, who commands the station, vacancies are affecting every police station across both the Melbourne East and Melbourne West local government areas.
“Victoria Police has vacancies … we’re not at full strength,” she confirmed. “Across the board, Victoria Police doesn’t have all of its positions filled.”
Impact on Community Safety
The reduced counter hours come at a challenging time for inner Melbourne, which has experienced rising crime rates. Police are redirecting available officers to street patrols and visible presence operations rather than staffing front desks.
“We’ve reduced our hours to make sure we can have adequate numbers out on the streets,” Snr Sgt O’Toole explained, emphasising that 24-hour patrol response services remain operational across all stations.
When the Southbank station’s front counter is closed, calls are automatically diverted to Melbourne East Police Station, ensuring residents can still speak with an officer, though not in person.
Operation Harmony Response
To address the increase in crime, Victoria Police launched Operation Harmony two weeks ago. The initiative focuses on deploying officers to high-crime areas throughout the CBD and surrounding suburbs, including Southbank.
“It’s a visible police presence in the CBD in specific areas where crime is known to occur,” Snr Sgt O’Toole said. “That involves foot patrols and static patrols.”
The operation is part of broader efforts to maximise police visibility despite staffing constraints, with Victoria Police “doing everything they can to push police numbers out onto the street.”
Apartment Security Concerns
One concerning trend identified by police is the prevalence of daytime apartment thefts in high-density residential areas like Southbank and South Melbourne.
“A lot of crime actually occurs during the day,” Snr Sgt O’Toole noted. “People take the opportunity to tailgate residents into their apartment complexes. That’s probably the number one way people get in.”
Residents are being urged to remain vigilant about building security, particularly regarding tailgating into common areas.
Increased Presence Planned
Despite the staffing challenges, police plan to increase their presence in entertainment and hospitality districts over the coming months, particularly around the festive season and major sporting events.
Areas including Southgate, Southbank Promenade, Crown Promenade, and South Wharf will see enhanced patrols from the divisional licensing unit, focusing on the numerous licensed venues operating in these precincts.
The staffing shortages affecting Southbank Police Station reflect broader workforce challenges facing Victoria Police, with the impacts being felt by communities across inner Melbourne as the force works to balance limited resources with growing demands for public safety.
