Victoria’s ‘major crime problem’ and ‘lack of trust’ in police sparks force’s biggest overhaul in years

Victoria police chief commissioner Mike Bush says more officers will be patrolling the streets as part of a bid to reduce crime. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Victoria police officers will spend less time doing paperwork and more time patrolling the streets in a bid to reduce crime and restore public confidence.

The chief commissioner, Mike Bush, announced the biggest restructure of the force in a decade on Monday, which he said was in response to the state’s “major crime problem” and “the lack of trust and confidence” in police to tackle it.