Uncertainty mounts over Shane Patton's role as Victoria Police Chief ...

Shane Patton's future as Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police has become increasingly uncertain amid mounting reports that his contract will not be renewed. 

With Commissioner Patton's five-year contract as leader of the state's police force due to end mid-year, it was expected he would continue for another term.

However, an overwhelming vote against his leadership by police officers on Friday has fuelled doubt about his future.

The vote, conducted by The Police Association of Victoria (TPAV), came in the context of a protracted pay dispute, and resulted in 87 per cent of voters saying they were not confident in Commissioner Patton's leadership and ability to manage the force in the future.

Police industrial action

Police officers will alert motorists to speed cameras and paint slogans on police vehicles after pay negotiations with Victoria Police broke down.

Despite growing media speculation on Saturday that Commissioner Patton would be ousted, the Victorian government has not confirmed whether he will be out of contention.

"We acknowledge the result of the vote by TPAV and its members and we value the hard work that our police officers and PSOs do every day in keeping Victorians safe," Police Minister Anthony Carbines said in a statement on Saturday. 

"A process is underway for the role of the Chief Commissioner of Police and it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Commissioner Patton, who began his police career as a cadet in 1978, was appointed to the top role in 2020.

Opposition says police chief is the government's 'fall guy'

Opposition leader Brad Battin said on Saturday afternoon it was not just a vote of no confidence in Commissioner Patton but also Premier Jacinta Allan and Mr Carbines.

"Changing the chief commissioner does not change the laws here in Victoria and it won't change the crime crisis we have in our state," he said.

Mr Battin said police were sick of arresting youth offenders who then committed further crimes while on bail.

"They're not just frustrated with Shane Patton, they're frustrated with a minister who has failed to act, they're frustrated with a premier who has refused to come out and reverse the bail laws that they changed in March 2023," he said.

Shadow police minister David Southwick said Commissioner Patton was being used as a scapegoat and he criticised the government for not fronting the media on the issue.

"The no-confidence motion should really be against the government," he said.

"This government wants to blame everybody except themselves.

"The fall guy is Shane Patton. The fall guy should be the police minister. He should be the one resigning today."

The opposition said any alternative choice for the chief commissioner role had to be made independently of the government and be given the resources they need to reduce crime.

Former police chief expresses sympathy for Patton

Former Victorian police chief Kelvin Glare said Commissioner Patton's time in the top job had been challenging due to the state government's financial decisions and because he'd inherited a poorly managed force.  

Mr Glare, who led the force between 1987 to 1992, said the state's Labor government led by Daniel Andrews and now Jacinta Allan had been "too busy digging holes in the ground" to properly fund policing, education and health. 

"I don't think [Shane Patton's] appointment was a mistake, I just think that he has suffered the legacy that was left him by previous chief commissioners," he said.

"And he's been unfortunate enough to land in a situation where we had a government that, to my mind, is inept [and] unaccountable.

"So I have great sympathy for Shane."

Mr Glare said it was understandable that police members had directed their discontentment towards the chief commissioner.

"They see the chief commissioner as someone who should be able to stand up to government and demand the sorts of things they need," he said.

Patton has vowed to address police officers' concerns

Before the vote on Thursday, Commissioner Patton said he did not intend to resign.

"Personally to have this motion put, yeah it hurts," he said at the time.

"Whichever way the vote goes, all I say is we're listening to the members and I'll continue to do my role to the best of my ability."

After the no-confidence result, Commissioner Patton vowed to address union members' concerns about the rising crime rate, police vacancies, and the high number of officers on long term leave.

He said those issues were not unique to Victoria Police and there was "no silver bullet" to fixing them.

He acknowledged the uncertainty caused by the lengthy enterprise bargaining dispute.

"Rest assured my commitment to the role of Chief Commissioner has not wavered and I will continue to lead this organisation," he said.