A spate of violent attacks against Victoria's police has fuelled concerns that young criminals are increasingly targeting officers and exploiting policies introduced to protect the public.

It appears criminals have been emboldened to strike at officers since the force scrapped police pursuits, with the union imploring command to explore solutions such as helicopters to monitor stolen cars and make sure offenders don't get a "free hit".

The increase in ice-fuelled crime, illegal firearms and now a series of direct threats to officers through shootings or hit and runs has put enormous pressure on the force, already exacerbated by heightened threats of terrorism.

In the most recent incident, the driver of a stolen ute made a U-turn to drive back towards a police car and fired a shot at the officers inside, who were unable to pursue them.

Concerns about the pursuit policy are magnified by the apparent ease that criminals have obtaining illegal firearms, resulting in the force establishing a specialised team within the anti-gang Purana taskforce earlier this month.

The shooting at police on Thursday came less than four months after an officer was shot in the head during an intercept in Moonee Ponds. It follows the charging of Jade Earl for hitting an officer with her car at Highpoint on Monday, an officer being run down on EastLink last Wednesday and another officer being swiped by a stolen car in Fawkner.

A central pillar in the Police Association's campaign for increased pay and penalty rates as part of ongoing Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations is the inherent dangers of working as a police officer.

While the Police Association backed the scrapping of police pursuits, secretary Ron Iddles conceded that some members felt the policy put them at risk.

He said there had not been enough thought given to the consequences of changing the policy.

Queensland police, which implemented a ban on pursuits that immediately preceded Victoria's, have been criticised by the union and NSW police this year for the policy in that state.

The Queensland Police Union blasted command for standing down two officers who pursued a car on the Gold Coast in a possible breach of the policy, and NSW police slammed their Queensland counterparts for having to terminate a chase when the offenders crossed the border at Tweed Heads.

NSW police are considering changes to the pursuit policy, which was in the process of being reviewed when a 17-month-old girl died after being struck outside her home during a chase in Sydney's west.

Detective Senior Sergeant Iddles said the force could use helicopters or planes to pursue drivers who were wanted by police when officers on the ground had to let them go. The cars used in three of the four most recent incidents were stolen.

Fairfax Media has confirmed the force has not increased resources since the change of policy in either the specialised Vehicle Crime Squad which forms part of the Anti-gangs division and targets organised crime involvement in thefts, or in Vehicle Crime Investigation Teams, which can be established at regional or suburban stations to reduce local thefts.

Detective Senior Sergeant Iddles said the use of helicopters or places to track stolen cars would be costly and require state government funding.

"The whole environment has changed," Detective Senior Sergeant Iddles told 3AW.

"Melbourne is now a 24-7 city, basically.

"We need to look at other technology and [helicopters or planes] is one option you'd look at."

Detective Inspector Stephen Clark from the Armed Crime Squad, which is investigating Thursday's incident, said there appeared to be no reason for police to be targeted.

"It's a real concern when anybody gets shot at but certainly the police and certainly in circumstances where there appears to be no reason for it," Inspector Clark said.

"The pursuit had been terminated, the car has come back from the other direction," he said. "Who knows what they were thinking."

- with Patrick Hatch