Crime Command

The Victoria Police Crime Command's role is to conduct high level specialist investigations to detect, disrupt and prevent serious and organised crime.

Crime Command's key goals are to:

minimise the harm caused to the Victorian community by serious and organised crime
create a hostile environment for crime
increase community confidence in our ability to prevent and reduce crime
develop and build our investigative standards, capability and response

Crime Command's Core responsibilities are to:

Prevent crime from occurring through early, intelligence-led detection; forecasting emerging crime themes; developing multi-agency strategies for target hardening and crime reduction; increasing community awareness.
Detect and stop offenders through a swift and effective investigative response; proactive investigations; and through working in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, industry and the community.
Reduce the likelihood and incidence of crime and repeat victimisation through incapacitation of individuals and networks, successful convictions and legislative reform for tougher penalties
Disrupt repeat offenders through targeted operations that focus on prolific and career criminals and active end-to-end involvement in prosecutions to achieve successful criminal justice outcomes
Strengthen the safeguards against crime through increasing community engagement and resilience building, evaluating interventions – locally and globally – to identify best practice and providing a continual visible presence and messaging

Crime Command's focus and priorities are:
- investigative focus on high level and organised crime by targeting individuals and organisations listed on the National and Regional Criminal Target List
- investigative focus on gangs, particularly outlaw motorcycle gangs
- investigative focus on homicides, firearms related crime and other violent crime
- continued investigative focus on illicit drugs, particularly those causing the greatest harm to the community (methamphetamine)
- investigative response to sex offences and child exploitation, including cold-case investigations into unsolved homicides and serious sex offences
- security
- resourcing of sensitive task forces
- regional support – supporting Regions with their investigative response to serious crime and organised crime
- capability development – building our organisational capability to deal with family violence, sex offences and child abuse, cybercrime, financial crime, unexplained wealth and criminal proceeds
- crime reduction – working in partnership with industry and other key stakeholders to develop Crime reduction strategies, particularly in the areas of financial fraud, retail and vehicle theft, and online child exploitation.
The role of Arson and Explosives is to respond to and provide primary investigation accountability for offences including:
- suspicious fire deaths (or injury likely to result in death)
- bombs and/or explosive devices
- fatalities involving wildfire/bushfire
Respond to and provide support to police across the state for offences including:
- fire-related death, suicide or life threatening and or significant serious injuries
- politically motivated fires
- complex suspicious fires
- intentionally or recklessly causing a bushfire
Arson and Explosives Squad strives to provide a dedicated specialist investigation group to:
- target organised, serial, or recidivist offenders
- maintain and develop subject matter consultants in arson and explosives and maintain investigation guidelines
- this squad works with VPFSC Fire and Explosion Section and Bomb Response Unit.
When is a person a missing person?

A person is considered missing when:
1. they are reported to police and their whereabouts are unknown; and
2. there are fears for the safety or concerns for the welfare of that person, including any person in an institution (not including a prison or gaol)
When can a person be reported as missing?

A person can be reported as missing at any time – there is no time limit or period to wait. If the person fits the definition of a missing person, you should report the matter to police. Persons who are vulnerable due to health, age or impairments, should be reported missing without delay.

Missing person investigations are managed by local police and escalated to the local criminal investigation unit, or the Homicide Squad, depending on their level of risk or the suspicious circumstances of their disappearance.

If, after making initial enquiries yourself, you wish to report someone as a missing person, you should go to a police station. Where possible, this should be nearest to where the person lives or was last seen. Missing persons reports cannot be taken over the phone.

What information should be provided to police?

Victoria Police gathers the following information to assist in its processing of missing persons reports:
- personal details of the missing person, including their name and any aliases they may use, address, age, date of birth and place of birth
- a recent photograph of the person and full description, including any scars, tattoos, birthmarks and jewellery usually worn by the person
- a list of the clothing and footwear the person was last seen wearing
- any vehicle details or usual transport details
- banking, credit cards or other financial accounts used by the person
- a list of places frequented by the person, including any possible destinations
- a list of the missing person's friends, relatives, work colleagues and fellow students, including their addresses and telephone numbers
- contact details for doctors and dentists used by the person
- details of any medical conditions suffered by the person, including any medications required and what they treat
- any other information that may assist police in their investigation
If you know where a person who has been reported missing is, or you have any information about a missing person, call:
- Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
In order to report a person as missing, attend at your local police station.

For more information visit the Missing Persons section of the Victoria Police website
The Organised Motor Vehicle Theft Squad (OMVTS) was renamed the Vehicle Crime Squad (VCS) on the 1 July, 2014. The squad is comprised of specialist criminal investigators and intelligence operatives.

Investigative operations range from the international and interstate importation of stolen vehicles, organised vehicle re-birthing, targeted investigations on groups, preventive operations and extensive industry liaison and interaction. The Tasking and Coordination Committee is responsible for approving all operations.

The squad engages in short, medium and long-term operations that are reactive and proactive in nature. This includes the use of traditional investigative methods and an extensive use of physical and electronic surveillance, criminal informers, covert police operatives, forensic accountants and a wide range of specialist services. The squad has adopted a multi-disciplinary approach involving liaison and joint investigative efforts with other State and Federal government regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies.

The Vehicle Crime Squad:
- identifies, investigates and prosecutes, prevents and disrupts professional motor vehicle theft activity
- maintains operational liaison and cooperation with regional Vehicle Theft Task Groups, external law enforcement and relevant government regulatory agencies
- liaises and formulates coordinated partnerships with vehicle industry stakeholders in order to reduce the impact of professional motor vehicle theft activity

About us

Updated 7 July 2021