Victoria Police implemented interim security measures after the national terror threat level was raised to high in January that included the banning of single-officer patrols.

However in June, Deputy Commissioner Lucinda Nolan announced a relaxation of the “two-up policy” after criticism that thin resourcing in the country made implementation difficult.

Opposition police spokesman Edward O’Donohue toured several police stations with South West Coast MP Denis Napthine last week.

The duo met Senior Constable David Rook at Macarthur Police Station along with other officers across the region.

Mr O’Donohue said a lack of resourcing coupled with the two-up policy had made life for officers difficult.

“The only way this new system would work is if there was extra police officers on the ground,” he said. “The problem is the government is failing to increase police officer numbers in the same way the Coalition did while in government.”

Dr Napthine said solo officers should be given more power to make their own risk assessments.

“Single officers know their communities and to have this policy imposed on them is unfair,” the Liberal MP said.

“For instance, if there’s a report of 100 sheep being knocked off in the Macarthur or Hawkesdale areas and the officer is told to require back-up, then the rogue might get away.”

Senior Constable Rook said his role as a one-member police station officer was to police his community. 

“The Chief Commissioner's instructions now give me clear and concise guidelines as to how I should achieve that goal safely,” the Macarthur-based officer said.

“They have formalised the need for ongoing safety risk assessments, which is something we have been doing for a long time.

“The public have no need to be concerned because if anyone rings for police assistance Victoria Police will attend."