A $210 million investment from the state government will see the creation a new secondary hotline for contacting police as well as 200 jobs for Ballarat.
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In November 2017 the government revealed it would establish a new police assistance line, aimed at providing people with an avenue to contact law enforcement in non-emergency situations.
On Wednesday Police Minister Lisa Neville will unveil Serco Citizen Services as the successful tenderer, who will now set up and run the centre.
In a statement Ms Neville said ““this will give all Victorians – no matter where they live – another way to report crime, suspicious behaviour or make general policing inquiries, to keep communities safe”.
The hotline as well as the accompanying online reporting portal on a secure website are expected to be operational by 2019.
Through the new hotline, callers’ queries will be heard by call centre staff and prioritised before being handed on to police officers.
Reports of the likes of theft, property damage, neighbourhood disputes, noise complaints and party registrations are expected to be directed through the new hotline as opposed to 000.
The call centre is expected to be located within Federation University, although the precise location is yet to be determined.
In a statement Wendouree MP Sharon Knight said “we’re another step closer to delivering a world-class police and emergencies services hub in Ballarat, which will support hundreds of job and drive investment in the region”.