Trial to free divvy vans
The Age
Thursday March 25, 2010
POLICE will introduce a tougher approach to investigating crime through a system that will tap into large teams of investigators in Melbourne suburbs.The system is designed to free divisional van crews, who are being flooded with calls that have left them unable to attend all daily jobs.Chief Commissioner Simon Overland said that under the new system when a crime could not be resolved by the first unit quickly, it would be assigned to the pool of investigators by a tasking inspector.He said the new approach was designed to use local intelligence to "get in front of crime problems".The 12-month pilot will start in Fawkner and Moorabbin in July and may be introduced in a country region later in the year.Mr Overland said uniformed police and local detectives would staff the investigation pools.The new method would result in a stronger focus on investigations, an improved ability to identify local crime problems and a more efficient first response, he said.Mr Overland also announced a reshuffle in his command team, with Assistant Commissioner Emmett Dunne moving to head the Ethical Standards Department.Former Ethical Standards Department head Luke Cornelius takes over the Southern Metropolitan Division.
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