Victoria Police announce testing to be axed in bid to fast-track recruitment

Entrance requirements to join one of Australia’s police forces will be relaxed in a dramatic measure to bolster its frontline and fast-track recruitment.

Victoria Police announced an array of changes to fast-track recruits on Tuesday, as it battles low morale and seeks to fill more than 1000 vacancies statewide.

The changes mean paramedics, firefighters, defence force personnel and those with a ATAR score higher than 65, as well as a study score of at least 25 in English, will no longer need to sit an entrance exam.

Individuals who completed a bachelor degree in the arts, science, humanities, business and law will also be exempt from completing the entrance exam.

The changes take effect immediately and apply to residents who studied or worked in emergency services in Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom in the past five years.

Victoria Police has also removed the need for the majority of potential recruits to have a one-on-one psychologist appointment.

Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent said the changes meant quality applicants would no longer be held up with unnecessary obstacles.

“There’s no doubt policing can be a tough job and it takes a special person to do it,” Mr Nugent said on Tuesday.

“We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to attract those people and back the hardworking police making a difference out in the community each and every day.”

The announcement follows a tough time for the force, spending 18 months locked in a pay dispute with its members, low morale and officers dropping out of the force in high numbers.

It resulted in a leadership shake-up with Chief Commissioner Shane Patton resigning last month after a no confidence vote by rank and file members.

Deputy commissioner Neil Paterson also left the force four days later.

A search for Mr Patton’s permanent replacement is ongoing after the government ruled his position untenable.

In his maiden press conference last month, Mr Nugent said community safety, employee well-being and recruitment would be some of his key priorities while he was in the chair.

“We have over 1000 vacancies in the organisation at the moment, and we need to ensure that the pipeline is clear to enable people to be recruited in this organisation,” he said at the time.

Premier Jacinta Allan welcomed the acting chief commissioner’s decision to relax entrance requirements.

“That’s how Victoria Police can support welcoming more people into the force,” she told reporters on Tuesday.

Opposition police spokesman David Southwick said while the changes are a step in the right direction, it falls short of delivering the comprehensive plan needed to address the police shortage crisis.

A pay deal between Victoria Police and its staff was finally reached on Friday.

It includes a minimum 4.5 per cent annual pay increase over the next four years, with those on the front line winning an additional 0.5 per cent raise.