Former NZ top cop tapped to lead Victoria police reveals plan for solving state’s ‘crime issues’ | Australian police and policing

The previous head of the New Zealand police power, Mike Bush, has been appointed Victoria’s subsequent chief commissioner, pledging to prioritise crime prevention and enhance police visibility throughout the state.

The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, and police minister, Anthony Carbines, on Tuesday introduced Bush had been awarded a five-year contract to run the state’s police power, starting 27 June.

Bush joined the New Zealand police power in 1978 and was chief commissioner from 2014 till April 2020, when he retired. Throughout his time with the power, he led their response to the 2019 Christchurch massacre and the White Island volcano eruption.

He stated he was lured out of retirement after the Victorian authorities approached him to use for the position, attributable to his “actual ardour for police that’s in my blood”.

“I’ve been doing it my complete grownup life and most of my life has been dedicated to public security. It’s simply so necessary that folks in communities are secure and really feel secure, and police providers are on the forefront of that,” Bush advised reporters.

“That’s two excellent purpose and the third one is that the state of Victoria is a superb place. Kiwis love Victoria, I’m no completely different and I’m very honoured to be a part of your group and to serve you.”

Bush joins the Victoria police at a tough time. Knowledge launched in March confirmed a 13.2% rise in the state’s crime rate in 2024 — the very best since 2016.

Offences dedicated by youngsters aged between 10 and 17 rose to their highest ranges since digital data started in 1993, prompting the federal government to tighten its bail laws.

The police management has additionally confronted upheaval, with commissioner, Shane Patton, pressured to resigned after a no confidence vote by rank and file law enforcement officials in February.

Former emergency administration commissioner, Rick Nugent, was then appointed as performing commissioner however blindsided the federal government in April when he ruled out applying for the permanent post.

Nugent will depart the power on Thursday, with the deputy commissioner for regional operations, Bob Hill, to function performing chief commissioner till Bush begins.

Allan stated Bush would carry “new management” to Victoria police.

“Bush made the group safer in New Zealand and he’ll do the identical right here in Victoria,” she stated.

His 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honour cited his crime prevention mannequin, which helped scale back offending within the nation by 20% between 2010 and 2014.

Bush stated he was conscious of the “crime points” inside Victoria however they weren’t distinctive.

“These crime points are literally world, fairly related wherever you go, however it’s not ok simply to show up after the act,” he stated.

“It’s a must to get in entrance of these items and having a prevention mindset and a prevention focus on the entrance is basically, actually necessary.”

Bush stated his strategy could be guided by the principal of Sir Robert Peel that police “exist to stop crime and hurt.”

“There’ll undoubtedly be extra visibility however we’ll even be fairly subtle about how we carry within the intelligence and deploy individuals to get in entrance of crime points,” he stated.

Bush stated he labored carefully with Māori, Pasifika and multicultural and multi-faith communities to construct belief. He stated New Zealand stays one of many few international locations the place police don’t routinely carry firearms, with long-arm weapons saved in squad automobiles for emergency use.

It’s the first time somebody who has not labored at Victoria police has been appointed to the highest job since 2001, when New South Wale police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon was given the job.

Bush acknowledged his “outsider” standing and stated he was “honoured to be”.

Nixon advised ABC Radio Melbourne Bush was a “sensible choice”.

“The commissioners in New Zealand have all the time been near to Australian policing,” she stated.

“Techniques are a bit completely different, terminology is likely to be completely different however he’ll have good individuals round him and he’ll get to the duty fairly fast.”