Two states’ police forces are in line for upgrades.

South Australia and Victoria have announced new funding that will see their policing capabiliti8es upgraded and expanded.

The Victorian Government has put up $2 billion to recruit 2,729 new frontline and specialist police, boosting overall numbers by 20 per cent.

An increase in carjackings and aggravated burglaries across Melbourne has led to increased community concern.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said there would be a “profound change” in the way Victoria Police was resourced.

“Recent trends have demonstrated to us that the boom and bust cycle of police recruitment is not the way to fight crime,” he said.

The new recruits will include 42 specialist officers trained to target young offenders and help those at risk.

Meanwhile, in South Australia, the 'SAPOL 2020' scheme has been launched, which will see six police local service areas (LSA) in Adelaide merged into four districts, non-sworn officers will start taking triple-0 calls from 2020, and body cameras will be rolled out in 2017.

SA Police are also getting access to new facial recognition systems, some of which it was already using.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said no police stations would close as part of the mergers, as well as no cuts to staff numbers or the budget.

New District Policing Teams will be set up to work on lasting responses to the social issues underlying crime.

More information is available here.