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Victoria Police Emergency Management Roles

Victoria Police is a statutory authority within the Justice portfolio and has an important role in providing community assistance, guidance and leadership. Victoria Police aims to help improve quality of life for individuals in the community by ensuring a safe and secure society.

An important part of this service to the community is the role Victoria Police plays in the prevention, response and recovery activities associated with emergencies in Victoria.

Coordination Role

Victoria Police has responsibility under the Emergency Management Act 1986 for emergency response coordination. This role involves coordinating the activities of agencies having roles or responsibilities in response to emergencies, with the exception of emergencies involving defence force vessels or aircraft.

Control agency

Victoria Police is the responsible agency for the control of response activities for the following types of emergencies:

• search and rescue on land and Victorian waters, other than for Australian Defence Force ships and planes
• road and other accidents (unless otherwise designated)
• rescue in mines and caves
• explosive devices
• threats to life, property or environment (unless otherwise designated).

Support agency

Victoria Police also provides services, personnel, or material to support or assist a control agency or affected person, including:

• dissemination of public information
• evacuation - in consultation with the control agency and other expert advice
• registration of evacuees - in conjunction with the Australian Red Cross
• access to communications
• deceased persons (identification/coronial investigations)
• effective coordination of Commonwealth resources
• media relations (if the Control Agency does not have to resources to manage the media).