BALLARAT was left without a police divisional van in Ballarat yesterday because of a shortage of officers, according to the union.
Police Association secretary Senior Sergeant Paul Mullett said police numbers in Ballarat were at a critically low level and the problem was jeopardising community safety.
"The community deserves, at the very least, to have a divisional van representing them 24/7," he said.
"They've been struggling to do that in the last few weeks and it has compromised community safety."
But Ballarat Police Inspector Ian Davis said a normal number of police were on duty yesterday.
He said resources were only stretched because the County Court was sitting as well as the Magistrates Court, but said he believed a divisional van was operating.
"If that had happened, I would have heard about it, but if it did, I know there were other people here who could have responded to specific jobs," he said.
Mr Mullett said the union was still trying to negotiate a pay rise and increased resources with Victoria Police.
He said Ballarat police could be involved in strike action.
A spokesperson for State Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron said the government had already increased numbers and resources, with a further 350 officers announced in the May budget.
"The Bracks Government recently handed Victoria Police its largest ever budget, $1.6 billion, which included funding for new weapons and 100 police cars," the spokesperson said.
"And after the largest recruitment program in Victoria's history, crime is at a record low and we have more police than ever before, with an additional 1400 police officers added to the beat since 1999."
Police levels critical: union
