Put Victorian cops back on the beat: union

"You'll get a pizza quicker than a police officer ... and the police won't always attend."

With that line, Police Association of Victoria secretary Ron Iddles summed up why he thinks the state has experienced a 8.1 per cent rise in crime over the past year.

"We need more (officers) out on the front line," the former homicide detective told reporters on Thursday after the Crime Statistics Agency released its 2015 data.

"There is an aspect of prevention in relation to that.

"Our members tell us now they do not patrol. They are only reactive."

Mr Iddles says many police are being tied up in task forces at the expense of patrols.

In Cranbourne, a rapidly growing area on the urban fringe, there's still just one divisional van to patrol the streets, as there was 30 years ago, Mr Iddles said.

Total offences in Cranbourne and surrounds jumped almost 20 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014.

"Something has to give and sadly, from what I've seen over the past few months, it is our members that are breaking down," he said.

The promise from Premier Daniel Andrews of more resources and increased powers is welcomed by Mr Iddles but he remains wary of government announcements regarding additional "police personnel".

That phrase can include sworn officers and unsworn employees, including custody officers and protective services officers.

Of the latest 701 new "police personnel" to join the force, Iddles says "the net gain on the street for first responders was zero".

"That's not good enough."

Chief commissioner Graham Ashton will meet Mr Iddles on Friday.