Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton’s contract will reportedly not be renewed following a damning vote of no confidence by officers within the force.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines last week indicated Patton’s contract would be extended after saying he “has the government’s confidence and the confidence of police members”.
That remark caused The Police Association Victoria (TPAV) to conduct a ballot to determine whether its members did, in fact, have confidence in Patton.
“For that comment to come out last week, that really motivated the members to say ‘no, we speak for ourselves’. You don’t have the right to cite that confidence,” TPAV’s senior vice president Karl David said yesterday.
Members were asked whether they had confidence in Patton to “lead and manage Victoria Police in the future” and, last night, TPAV revealed 87.13 per cent of more than 12,000 officers who participated in the survey voted “no”.
“This is a vote of no confidence, not just in Shane Patton, but in the Premier and Police Minister,” Opposition Leader Brad Battin said.
“At specific times he should have spoken louder and he should have gone in to bat for the troops he’s there to protect.
“I want someone who is independent, that is there to work for the men and women they are there to serve and that puts community safety as their top priority.”
Today, Patton was reportedly told his five-year contract will not be renewed.
Carbines, however, has refused 9News requests for an interview.
Patton’s term ends in June and, despite saying the results were “obviously disappointing on a personal front”, he’s not indicated that he will step down.
”Rest assured my commitment to the role of Chief Commissioner has not waivered and I will continue to lead this organisation,” he said in a statement last night.
Patton joined the force in 1978 and was chief of staff to Simon Overland during Melbourne’s gangland war.
He was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 2015 and named Chief Commissioner in 2020.
His first major job in the role was enforcing COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions.
In the years since, Patton has overseen a surge in youth crime and resignations and has also failed to finalise a new pay deal for the past two years.
“It’s not the pay dispute. It’s the conditions,” David said.
“Crime continues to go up. Morale continues to fall. Recruiting continues to stagnate. Our retention gets worse and worse.”
