Victoria Police has called in the workplace umpire to settle a long-running pay dispute, as officers launch new industrial action.
On Thursday morning, Victorian police officers began alerting motorists to speed camera locations, painting slogans on police cars and parking outside government buildings.
The pay dispute between, the Police Association of Victoria (TPAV) and the force, led to similar actions late last year but it was paused during negotiations.
In May, an in-principle agreement was reached with officers securing a shift to a nine-day fortnight and a 16 per cent pay rise over four years.
However, the deal was rejected by members and parties returned to the negotiating table.
A police spokesman said Victoria Police was focused on reaching a new enterprise agreement that recognised the hard work of police and protective services officers.
"To this end we have asked the Fair Work Commission to assist the parties in expeditiously resolving negotiations," he said.
"Costing of the revised TPAV log of claims necessitated this move as the figure falls well outside Victorian government wages policy and Victoria Police is not authorised to bargain beyond these parameters."
TPAV secretary Wayne Gatt said the fresh round of industrial action was regrettable but necessary.
"Since having served a revised lot of claims on Victoria Police, they've been unable to engage in any meaningful negotiations," he told reporters on Thursday morning.
"Get in there, get your sleeves rolled up and sort this out."
Among the claims, the union wants a 24 per cent pay rise over four years and the introduction of an 8.5 hour shift to account for putting their gear on and taking it off at either end of their working day.
Premier Jacinta Allan said operational issues were a matter for the chief commissioner, but negotiations would continue in good faith.
"(We) thank Victoria Police for the work that they do every single day, protecting our community and also working in difficult and, at times, dangerous circumstances," she said.
"And we will always support their work, and we will always negotiate in good faith."
Opposition police spokesman Brad Battin said it was vital negotiations led to a fair deal for Victorian police.
"We have already got nearly 1000 vacancies here in Victoria, 43 stations closed, and that means less cars on the road to protect you at home," he said.
"We need to make sure that we get all of those priorities back into place."
