Victoria Police is reviewing its policies regarding vehicle pursuits, due to an ongoing spate of dangerous driving involving stolen cars and an increase in hoon events.
Speaking to the Herald Sun newspaper, Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said a “more robust approach” was required to help secure the safety of lawful road users.
Victoria Police officers are only allowed to engage in a pursuit if there is a significant threat to public safety or if a crime involving serious injury has been committed.
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Mr Bush called the policies too “risk-averse” and said a new approach needs to be taken against those who act as if they are not bound by the rule of law.
“We cannot give up our roads and communities to criminals and people who want to intimidate and assault innocent members of the public,” Mr Bush told the Herald Sun.
“We are also looking at our pursuit policy and taking a more robust approach to people who think there’s no consequence to this kind of offending. We’re going to ensure that they know there is a consequence.”
In 2015, Victoria Police restricted the use of pursuits for minor property or traffic offences, following several chases resulting in fatalities.
In late 2021, a coroner called for even stricter rules to be implemented after a man was killed 21 seconds into a pursuit after he refused to pull over for police while driving an unregistered car.
The latest decision comes after as many as 50 youths were allegedly riding erratically on motorcycles – most of which are believed to have been unregistered – through Melbourne’s west earlier this week.
It’s alleged the group then assaulted the driver of a Hyundai and vandalised the car following a near-miss, fleeing before police arrived.
A 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man were arrested and bailed following the incident.
“People shouldn’t have to bear witness or be victim to that sort of crime,” Mr Bush said.
“And that’s why we’re reassessing our approach to how we police the roads and police the communities.”
Videos of allegedly stolen vehicles driving at high speeds have become commonplace on social media, with the number of stolen cars jumping by almost 97 per cent since 2023.
According to the Insurance Council of Australia, a vehicle is taken or broken into every 42 minutes in Victoria, resulting in $243 million worth of claims in 2025 – compared to just $46 million in 2023.