Police Assistance Line marks one year anniversary

Nearly 800,000 calls have been made to the Police Assistance Line and 17,000 online crime reports have been processed since the service launched one year ago today.

Designed to free up frontline police so they can prioritise responding to urgent crimes and emergencies, the Police Assistance Line provides Victorians with an avenue to report non-urgent crimes without having to attend a police station.

In the 12 months since its inception, the service has not only processed thousands of crime reports, but also taken on new functions to assist police support the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Amongst the nearly 800,000 calls received since 1 July 2019, close to 78,000 have been from people calling to either report or provide information about possible public health order breaches.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Grainger said the service was contributing to a more realistic picture of offending across the state.

“It’s never been easier for Victorians to report non-urgent crimes – many of which have traditionally gone unreported,” AC Grainger said.

“The community can now report over the phone or online from a location of their choice.

“We started out to take the pressure off frontline police and we’ve done exactly that. Along the way, we’ve also found a way to adapt to emerging trends in the community.

“We’re adaptable, we’re flexible, and more importantly, we’re here for the community.”

The most common crime types reported throughout the 12 months were theft from motor vehicle, burglary, theft and property damage.

The community can continue to report non-urgent crime and events, as well as breaches of Chief Health Officer directions by calling the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or submitting an online report at www.police.vic.gov.au/palolr

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