Victoria Police is preparing to overhaul the way officers respond to dangerous hoon drivers, with Chief Commissioner Mike Bush signalling that the current pursuit policy has become too restrictive and no longer provides an effective deterrent against increasingly brazen offending on the state’s roads.

Speaking after a series of high-profile incidents involving reckless driving, stolen vehicles and attacks on police, Bush said Victorians should not have to accept behaviour that places innocent motorists and families at risk. He made it clear the force is reviewing its pursuit policy to ensure offenders understand there are real consequences for using vehicles to intimidate the public or evade police.

The review follows several incidents that have dominated headlines across Victoria. At Newport, a group of riders allegedly damaged a motorist’s vehicle after a near collision. At Narre Warren, police vehicles were allegedly attacked while officers attempted to disrupt an illegal hoon gathering. Other dangerous driving incidents have also raised fresh concerns about whether existing policing powers are keeping pace with increasingly reckless behaviour on Victorian roads.

Bush said the current pursuit policy had become “too risk averse” and confirmed discussions are underway about adopting a more robust approach. While public safety will remain the overriding priority, he believes officers should have greater capacity to pursue offenders who currently assume police will abandon a chase before they can be caught.

Rather than encouraging dangerous high-speed pursuits, the proposed changes are expected to focus on giving officers additional tactical options to safely intercept fleeing vehicles. Bush pointed to policing methods used in Western Australia and New Zealand, including controlled vehicle interdiction techniques designed to stop offenders while minimising risks to the public.

Victoria significantly tightened its pursuit rules after coronial findings into fatal police pursuits more than a decade ago. Since then, officers have generally been required to abandon pursuits involving lower-level traffic offences unless there is a serious and immediate threat to public safety. Supporters of the existing policy argue those restrictions have reduced unnecessary risks, while critics believe offenders have increasingly exploited the limitations.

For Bush, the challenge is finding a balance between protecting innocent road users and ensuring dangerous offenders are not effectively rewarded for fleeing police. He said communities should not feel that criminals can take over public roads without fear of being stopped.

The proposed review forms part of a broader strategy Bush has outlined during his first year as Chief Commissioner. Alongside changes to pursuit policies, he has highlighted organised crime, repeat youth offending, police recruitment and rebuilding public confidence in Victoria Police as major priorities for the coming years.

Recent crime statistics have shown some improvement in several areas, but Bush said repeat offenders continue to account for a significant proportion of offences. He argued that policing alone cannot solve every problem, but effective enforcement remains essential when individuals repeatedly place others at risk.

Any changes to pursuit procedures are expected to undergo detailed operational assessment before being introduced. Victoria Police will need to balance officer safety, community protection and legal obligations while ensuring any revised policy can be applied consistently in rapidly evolving situations on the road.

For motorists, the announcement signals that Victoria Police intends to adopt a firmer stance against hoon driving and dangerous vehicle-related crime. While the final form of the revised pursuit policy has yet to be announced, Bush’s message was clear: the force wants offenders to know that fleeing police should no longer be viewed as a strategy likely to succeed.