The Mounted Branch operates primarily to provide operational mounted support to all areas of Victoria Police.
History
Horses have been used by police in Victoria since Military Mounted Police rode into the colony in 1836. The establishment of Victoria Police in 1853 brought several mounted units together under the banner of the Mounted Branch. Horse and rider numbers increased in line with Victoria’s population, till they reached a peak in the early 1900s with 211 Mounted Stations throughout the state. The introduction of the motor car replaced the horses at these stations until the last Mounted Station at Buninyong was closed in 1965.
In the past the central Melbourne stables have been located on the banks of the Yarra, near to where the MCG and Olympic Park are today, as well as in St Kilda Road. The stables are on the grounds of the old Police Depot, one block from St Kilda Road in South Melbourne, in what is now called the Southbank area. These stables are the original stables built around World War I, when the depot was also built. The stables are capable of housing around 50 horses if required, as well as having an indoor riding school, yards and facilities for members.
The Mounted Branch Training Complex is in West Meadows, near the Melbourne Airport. All training of riders, breeding of horses, initial breaking and training of horses takes place at this complex.
Crowd control
The branch assists in crowd control at demonstrations, sporting events such as soccer matches, major events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Motorcycle Grand Prix, and any other event where large crowds gather such as New Year's Eve celebrations.
Patrols
Patrols form the largest component, time wise, that the Mounted Branch carries out. These patrols are normally requested and targeted by local stations who want a particular problem tackled. Some examples are theft of motor car, theft from motor car, burglaries, drug activity, street drags, traffic offences and street or behaviour offences.
Patrols take place day and night in central Melbourne, suburban Melbourne and country townships. The highly-visible police presence is a major reason for the success of these patrols, as well as the support the horses and riders can offer if violent situations arise.
Ceremonial duties
The branch still performs a small amount of ceremonial duties, such as regal and vice regal escorts. Some parades are still worked by the branch, including Anzac Day and the Grand Final Parade. The branch also has a ceremonial role at police funerals, graduation parades at the Victoria Police Academy, and regal and vice-regal escorts.
Other duties
The remainder of Mounted Branch duties involves community based and public relations work, and duties such as searches for missing persons, drugs and evidence.
Training is conducted on a weekly basis to maintain the horses at a high level of fitness, as well as periodic training for large crowd control events, with groups such as the Force Response Unit.
Horses
The Mounted Branch uses warmblood-type horses, which are bred specifically for police work by the Mounted Branch Training Complex. The branch also accepts some gift horses, which are donated by members of the public. However, there is a high attrition rate among horses offered for donation. The Mounted Branch has a minimum requirement of 16.2hh or higher for its troophorses. A variety of solid colours are accepted, such as bay, brown, black, grey and chestnut.
Vehicles
The branch has a state-of-the-art horse truck, capable of transporting six horses and has sleeping and living quarters for up to four members. To supplement this there are also several 4WD vehicles which each tow a two-horse float.
Uniform and riding equipment
Members are required to maintain several uniforms at the branch, including stable fatigues, general patrols uniform, demonstration uniform and ceremonial uniform.
Similarly, several types of equipment and tack are used on the horses including general patrol gear, exercise equipment, demonstration equipment including protective visors for the horses' faces, stock gear for searches and ceremonial accoutrements.
Contact us:
Victoria Police Mounted Branch
Corner of Grant and Dodds Streets
South Melbourne, VIC, 3205
Phone: (03) 9682 2366 or 9682 4733
Fax: (03) 9682 1117
