LOCAL police stations will not be impacted by temporary reductions to reception counter hours.

Victoria Police recently announced it would be making temporary changes to staffing during off-peak times at 43 stations in order to divert as many officers as possible to the frontline, with those previously rostered for reception shifts instead set to undertake duties such as community patrols.

The changes come as a result of efforts to manage a “significant number of officer vacancies” police linked to attrition.

Some 23 police stations in Victoria will reduce reception counter hours from the end of this month, with a further 20 to reduce over the coming months, however, stations in Mansfield, Jamieson and Woods Point will not be impacted.

The Police Academy is expected to graduate 48 constables every fortnight for the foreseeable future in an effort to fill vacancies across the state.

Deputy Commissioner regional operations, Neil Paterson, said police would not be closing any existing stations.

“Reception counter hour reductions will occur predominantly during the evening or overnight when we know they are rarely attended,” he said.

“Even when reception counters are unstaffed, police continue to patrol the local community and often still work within the station.

“Every Australian policing jurisdiction is currently experiencing resourcing challenges and police counter reductions are also occurring in other states.

“When give the choice, police know crime is most effectively deterred and detected via highly visible patrols in the community, rather than from behind a scarcely attended reception counter.

Deputy Commissioner Paterson said most people attending police stations did so to have statutory declarations signed or documents certified.

“Redirecting officers towards frontline policing duties will increase the likelihood of crime being prevented, offenders being arrested, and the community remaining safe.”