RSPCA Victoria has introduced a new look utility vest to further improve the safety of its Inspectors as they continue to investigate animal cruelty across the state.
The new stab-resistant vests are designed to enhance the uniform of the Authorised Inspectors, with a navy-blue colour, and ‘RSPCA INSPECTOR’ across the front and back to ensure easy identification by the public.
The latest change in safety measures comes as more than one in four animal cruelty reports investigated across the state can involve a ‘Violent Person of Interest’.
RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michelle Green said the new and improved vests would help improve Inspectors safety as they protect animals.
“RSPCA Victoria Inspectors routinely face dangerous or volatile situations that can escalate quickly while they are just trying to do their job,” Chief Inspector Green said.
“Our new vests look different to what Victorians know, but they are designed to improve the safety of our Inspectors while they are on the frontline investigating animal cruelty.
“Unfortunately, more than a quarter of animal cruelty reports in Victoria involved a reportedly ‘Violent Person of Interest’ in 2025.
“We will always operate under a safety-first protocol, and the introduction of these vests adds another level of protection as our Inspectors operate in challenging environments.”
RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker said she was delighted to see the roll-out of the new safety vests.
“RSPCA Inspectors are skilled, authorised officers attending highly complex jobs almost every day, and they need the best protection to stay safe,” Dr Walker said.
“Investigating animal cruelty is a difficult task and our top priority is ensuring our frontline Inspectors investigating animal cruelty reports are kept safe and ensuring the state’s most vulnerable animals get the help they need.
“We estimate it will cost RSPCA Victoria over $12.8 million to operate the Inspectorate this financial year.”
RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectorate currently has only 26 Authorised Inspectors and is currently undertaking recruitment of additional Inspectors to allow for more jobs to be attended in pairs to further improve Inspector safety.
RSPCA Victoria is calling on the Victorian Government to fully fund the operating costs of the Inspectorate in this year’s state budget which will be announced on 5 May 2026.
RSPCA Victoria is forecasting an approximately 20% increase in animals seized by, or surrendered to, Inspectors this financial year, with this small team taking in over 1,700 animals since July 2025.
