How police have strengthened their response to serious crimes

Several months ago investigators who work in the Divisional Response Unit (DRU) moved from their former office at Ballarat West Police Complex into a newly renovated space at the Ballarat Police Station on Dana Street.

This means the DRU investigators are now physically working alongside members from the Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU), with the two officers in charge - the CIU's Acting Inspector Tim Argall and the DRU's Detective Senior Sergeant Shaun Bingham - working from the same office.

It means the station is now a hub for all of the region's police investigation and response resources, from crime scene services to detectives from various units.

The only units not based at the hub are the crime investigation and family violence investigators based in Bacchus Marsh.

While under the one roof since the start of March, a new operating model was adopted about a fortnight ago.

The more than 30 DRU and CIU investigators have long worked closely together.

Until the merge, the DRU investigated 'volume crime' - such as theft from motor car, theft of motor car and burglaries.

Reported serious crime is now the response and investigation responsibility of the CIU, with all of the above plus assaults, fraud, firearm-related crime and aggravated burglary now falling onto their desks.

The DRU, meanwhile, has more of a proactive focus based on intelligence received including about drug crime.

The members keep abreast of criminal activity and target known criminals and areas. Detective Senior Sergeant Bingham said the proactive offender engagement team had been established in an effort to prevent crime before it occurred.

"The theory behind it is trying to prevent spates of crime. If we know someone is committing a crime, we try to cut it off proactively before they can commit a series of crimes," he said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Bingham said much of the DRU's work was initiated by intelligence - whether about drugs or active offenders in the community.

The unit is flexible, with members often jumping from one investigation to another depending on which is having the biggest impact on community safety.

DRU investigators support all other investigation and response units - so if there is an investigation involving an active offender, the proactive branch of the DRU is able to step in with their specialist skills to "take over the manhunt".

They are then able to build intelligence around potential offenders, identify the perpetrator, track them down and arrest them before further harm is created.

By splitting resources, it means the investigation can be undertaken "around the clock" until the offender is apprehended.

With their focus taken off the hunt, it also means the original investigators are able to shift their focus back to building their case for court, by gathering evidence in support of the prosecution.

As part of the proactive approach, the DRU also works with those released from prison - ensuring they comply with bail conditions and supervision orders.

In the cases when these are violated, the members work with the fugitive taskforce to bring these people back into custody.

Detective Senior Sergeant Bingham explained the goal to reduce the incidence and impact of crime meant community safety would be improved.

The benefits are already being reaped.

With much of the two units' work overlapping, the shared office has also improved efficiency.

Working in separate offices sometimes meant the same inquiries were being made by different investigators and "the same crooks" being chased, but this has since now been remedied.

"Instead of doubling up, with everyone on the same floor we know who is working on what at any given time so we can iron out those inefficiencies and by not duplicating work we get a more streamlined response," Detective Senior Sergeant Bingham said. "It's a more effective use of our resources."

Acting Inspector Argall added the exchange of information flowed much better between investigators now, which was easier than phone calls and emails.

Inspector Bob Heaney said the move also served to improve service delivery for the community, such as improving surge capacity.

"The beauty of having the DRU and CIU co-housing the same office is that it gives us a lot more agility with our resources."

He said this meant detectives could respond to an unfolding incident quicker, benefiting community safety.

"It's a better response model for our strategy around crime reduction," he said, adding that it was also beneficial for upskilling staff.

Many younger uniform officers take secondments to the DRU as a stepping stone into the investigative field. This is now easier with all of the detectives working upstairs.

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