The number of Blue Light discos has halved in parts of the state, a year on from cuts to the 39-year police-led crime prevention initiative.
Leading Senior Constable Wendy Shields, who runs the Mill Park Blue Light disco, said normally there would be a disco every month, but only three had been held this year.
Blue Light state co-ordinator Karen Burns said the number of discos held across Victoria this year was almost on par with last year’s tally, but some areas were facing worse viability issues than others.
“We’ve definitely been faced with more challenges this year,” she said.
Former Blue Light Disco chief executive Ivan Ray said he didn’t think the program had a long-term future.
“When I left it, they were surviving and that’s about as strong as I could put it,” he said.
Mr Ray, who stepped down from the role eight months ago, and former police chief commissioner Kel Glare, have penned an open letter calling on the state government and Victoria Police to recommit to the Blue Light Disco program and the now-defunct Police Schools Involvement Program, which introduced young people to police.
“Victoria Police is stepping away from youth programs,” Mr Ray said.
He said many police officers were continuing to run Blue Light discos in their own time and at their own risk.
In March last year, Victoria Police cut staff and resources, leaving the disco program short by $250,000 a year.
