The divisional priorities for the five local government areas in the police division - Ballarat, Hepburn, Moorabool, Golden Plains and Pyrenees - are reassessed each financial year, based on what is most impacting the community.

Western Region division three Superintendent, Frank Sells, said there had been some slight changes to the wording of the priorities from 2020-2021, but the overarching theme of the priorities was to deliver community safety.

"These priorities sit very comfortably with what we are seeing. If we can impact in each of these priorities, community safety will absolutely be enhanced."

While the four priorities are nominated, it does not mean that other issues will not be addressed throughout the year.

Road safety remains a top priority for police working in the division.

"We know road trauma has an extreme flow-on effect through the community," Superintendent Sells explained - from first responders to witnesses, the people involved and their family and friends.

"In addition to the human cost to the people involved, there are also costs to the health system with rehabilitation," he added.

Through this priority, police will try to change driver behaviour through education, engagement and enforcement.

An example is stopping a car for a traffic offence. Police can use the opportunity to change behaviour through roadside education: engaging with the driver and explaining the offence the driver committed and the consequences it can have, as well as enforcement by potentially issuing an infringement.

Analysis of fatal and serious injury collisions across the division shows that contributing factors continue to be fatigue, distraction, inattention, excessive speed and impaired driving (alcohol, illicit and prescription drugs).

Impaired driving is a particular focus area, as police have noted changed drinking habits during lockdowns which have translated into impaired driving when lockdowns are lifted.

In the year to date there have been six fatalities across the division, double the amount of lives lost this time last year.

There have also been hundreds of TAC claims for serious injuries resulting in hospitalisation.

Police will continue to conduct and support statewide road safety operations, using the opportunity to educate the community about the need for them at the same time.

The second focus area is youth, aged between 10 and 24 years of age, who are considered to be vulnerable.

"Our goal is to reduce police involvement with youth, particularly in terms of offending but also youth being victims," Superintendent Sells said.

The number of youth being reported as missing each year is "a real concern" because of their vulnerability when they are missing.

Police will have a particular focus on preventing youth involvement in the justice system.

"Normally the pathway to the justice system is through the police, so we will do what we can to prevent that," Superintendent Sells said.

"Prevention and early intervention is important, to try to reduce a person's involvement with the criminal justice system."

Working with schools and the education sector, police - including the proactive units and youth tasking team - have a particular focus on ensuring youth stay engaged and are linked in with opportunities for training and employment.

Police have run a number of beneficial programs during the last year, including Leading Senior Constable Jim Ross' Barista Blue program in Moorabool Shire.

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This also extends to linking youth in with other supports, including for mental health concerns, so any issues do not escalate into offending.

If a young person does come into contact with police because of offending, they are referred on to other agencies to receive support and hopefully break the cycle.

"It's about how we best work with partner agencies for the best outcome for the young person," Superintendent Sells said.

A new priority for the year is enhancing community safety in public areas and at public events.

"Our intent is for the community to see a lot more police in public spaces," he explained, adding this would help to mitigate antisocial behaviour.

This plan will include a more visible presence on the streets at night, especially when pubs, bars and clubs reopen.

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"We want people who feel safe moving around during the day to feel just as safe at night," he said.

A call for a more visible police presence and patrols across the region was part of feedback from a recent community survey hosted in parts of the police division.

Superintendent Sells said police worked closely with licensed premises to ensure they were operating safe environments and would do the same with events. This includes everything from smaller festivals to larger events, such as AFL matches and music festivals.

"The best we can work with operators for those sorts of events to make them safe not only benefits community safety but the events themselves," he said.

Another new inclusion for the year, it will see a strengthened focus on the most serious crimes perpetrated in the region - including family violence, drug and firearm offences.

Recently the divisional response and criminal investigation units were brought into the same office to work more cohesively, while a satellite family violence unit is being trialled at Bacchus Marsh to serve the Moorabool area.

"Our investigation teams are well established but every year we look at how they are best staged and located and what the best approach is. They are a terrific team and we are really comfortable with how they are looking for this financial year."

A part of this will be increasing intelligence around serious crimes and the people involved.

Superintendent Sells encouraged the community to come forward with any information about crimes in the region - whether erratic driving or robbery.

He said it was important for the community to feel comfortable enough to come forward with information, but it could also be submitted anonymously.

"It may not seem like a big thing at the time but it could be quite valuable down the track," he said.

With an increasingly diverse community, Superintendent Sells said more could be done to increase engagement with police and these communities.

While some officers hold specific diversity portfolios, such as a multicultural officer, Superintendent Sells said more could be done to better reach the ever-growing diversity across Ballarat.

"I think we can better connect with the diversity in our community. There have been some challenges around COVID but we will open up again and be able to better connect face-to-face with the community."

Reports can be made by calling a local police station or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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