Victoria Police has posted a spike in applications to join the force following major changes to streamline the recruitment process.
Applications were up 56 per cent in March compared with the same time last year.
Around 160 applicants - including paramedics, firefighters and defence force personnel - have had their applications fast-tracked under newly-introduced entrance exam exemptions.
It comes as Victoria Police works to fill more than 1000 vacancies statewide to support the frontline.
Analysis shows 810 police applications were received in March.
This compares with 518 applications over the same period last year.
Under changes introduced on 3 March Victoria Police no longer requires paramedics, firefighters and Australian Defence Force personnel employed in the last five years to complete the police entrance exam.
Applicants who in the last five years attained an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank of 65 or above and a minimum VCE study score of 25 in English are also among those who no longer need to sit the test.
A total 159 applicants as at 31 March had already been fast-tracked as part of the initiative.
This included 25 emergency services and defence force personnel and 24 with favourable VCE results.
A total 44 moved to the next recruitment stage without sitting the exam because they've successfully sat it in the last five years, another newly-introduced exemption.
A further 15 applicants recently passed the entrance exam for a police force elsewhere in Australia.
Additional improvements to Victoria Police's recruitment process are expected as it ramps up a drive to bolster police numbers.
Already three new double squads have this year entered the academy, the latest on 24 March.
Each double squad comprises two squads of up to 22 recruits, equalling a total of 44 recruits.
Another double squad is expected to start on 21 April.
More than 2100 police applications were submitted in the first three months of this year, about 140 more than at the same time last year.
For information on Victoria Police's recruitment process and the new entrance exam exemptions go to police.vic.gov.au/police-recruitment-process.
Quotes attributable to Acting Supt Sharon Matheson, Human Resources Command:
"The spike in applications we've recorded during March is encouraging but we know there is more work needed to bolster the hardworking frontline.
"I'm particularly pleased to see the response to our new entrance exam exemptions for applicants who've recently worked as a paramedic, firefighter or in defence.
"These are people who've demonstrated an aptitude for helping others and are committed to making a difference in the community.
"There's no doubt policing can be a tough job and it takes a special person to do it.
"We will continue doing all we can to attract those people and back the great work our members do each and every day."
