Victorians can expect to see more police officers on downtown streets this Christmas.
The Victoria Police Department (VicPD) announced on Dec. 3 that it is ramping up foot patrols in the downtown area in an effort to help protect Victoria businesses.
"Throughout the fall and into winter, officers will be spending dedicated hours walking the downtown core, engaging with businesses to listen to their concerns and provide valuable information, all while continuing to respond to calls for service," VicPD said in a news release. "Officers will continue to prioritize addressing retail theft with increased efforts throughout the holiday season."
This scheme is built upon the success of VicPD's foot patrols last summer and its 2023 Downtown Connect project – a six-week initiative intended to connect police to local business owners while increasing officers' visible presence in the downtown area.
“Our business community is the heart of downtown, and we’re always looking for ways to be more responsive and to help empower them with information," VicPD chief Del Manak said in the same release. "During the busy holiday season especially, we want to ensure they know that we are there for them."