For some time now, pursuit policies have allowed criminals on our roads to essentially get away with flouting the law in Victoria.
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Now, these hoons – these bloody idiots – beware, the chase is back on.
Victoria's controversial police pursuit policy has been relaxed after carjackers took advantage of strict rules preventing chases.
In announcing the pursuit changes on Wednesday, Victoria’s Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton says the new policy will give officers the discretion to decide when to engage in a pursuit.
He said it was a step back from a more restrictive policy introduced in July 2015 in the wake of coronial recommendations.
But he refused to explain when a pursuit could take place.
"What we've found, particularly over the last 12 months, is you've got pretty educated criminals out there," Mr Ashton said.
"In our debriefing with them they pretty well know chapter and verse exactly the types of offences we will and won't (pursue for) so we often don't talk about a whole range of methodologies for that reason."
And why should Victoria Police give these people the heads-up? What gives them the right to know when/where/how they will be nabbed?
Good on you, VicPol for staying mum on this one.
The former policy prevented police chasing vehicles linked to theft or minor traffic offences, drawing criticism from the police union for giving hoons a green light.
That’s the green light to do what they wished, to drive how fast or erratically they wanted, to thumb their noses at the law.
Well, hoon offenders/criminals, your time on the run will soon be over.
During a media briefing on Wednesday, Mr Ashton also responded to criticism there was less visibility of frontline policing in the wake of a wave of home invasions and carjackings in Victoria.
"(People are) more scared than they should be, I can tell you that, because we've never been more visible than we are now," he said.
The Chief Commissioner pointed to a 10 per cent rise in arrests as proof current policing methods were working.
"We are absolutely committed to being highly visible. Part of the reason that the crime rate is up is off the back of the arrests our people are making."
You guys and girls in blue are doing a great job.