"The Ombudsman’s report as I saw it essentially questioned a judgment call that I made," Mr Overland said. Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay will step into the breach. "It’s not the straw the broke the camel’s back as far as I’m concerned." Mr Overland said he would go on leave at the end of business today, and his resignation would be effective from July 1. In his brief, four-minute press conference, he said he had no regrets about his time in the top job.

However he said there were many "distractions" that he did not believe would be resolved if he stayed on. "It seems to me they are unlikely to abate and it has got to the position where I think my continuing in this role is counter productive to the best interests on Victoria Police and Victoria," he said. Mr Overland denied he had been pressured by the government, would not disclose details of his pay-out and said he would not be making further comment, asking the media to respect his privacy. Premier Ted Baillieu had already announced Mr Overland's resignation at a press conference an hour earlier. Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay will serve as acting Chief Commissioner.

Police Association secretary Greg Davies was surprised to learn of Mr Overland’s decision. He said he had only just heard the announcement when contacted by The Age. "It’s certainly a decision of significance," Mr Davies said. "We weren’t expecting this announcement from the Premier and Deputy Premier". Mr Davies said he would have more to say at a press conference later this afternoon.

The resignation of Mr Overland comes after months of pressure. Although publicly standing by Mr Overland, the State Government had ordered an investigation into of Victoria Police senior command after Mr Overland forced out his deputy Sir Ken Jones, three months before he intended to quit. The reasons were never fully explained. Deputy Premier and Police Minister Peter Ryan said Mr Overland offered his resignation during discussions last night. Mr Ryan said he had a discussion with Mr Overland, who said he would offer his resignation.

"The Chief Commissioner of police, in the course of the discussions with me, indicated his intention to submit his resignation and that is what he has done," he said. "We respect the fact of his having taken that decision, we reached mutual agreement with him." Mr Ryan said he spoke to Mr Overland after he received a copy of the Ombudsman’s report into crime statistics and held talks with the Premier yesterday. "The Government concluded that the report presented issues in relation to the management of Victoria Police that were of serious concern," Mr Ryan said. "Accordingly, I spoke with the Chief Commissioner and advised him of the Government’s concerns.

"The Government and Chief Commissioner came to a mutual agreement that it was appropriate for the Chief Commissioner to resign." Mr Ryan thanked Mr Overland for his service. Just before Mr Baillieu's announcement, Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews gave his support to Mr OVerland. Mr Andrews said the Ombudsman's report cleared the previous Labor government of pressuring police to release the figures. He said Mr Brouwer's report left in tatters the coalition’s claims the Labor government pressured Mr Overland to release the statistics.

"No member of the former government did anything that was inappropriate," he said. Mr Andrews said Mr Overland had been up front about the fact he made a mistake releasing the crime figures early but had done nothing to warrant the government’s campaign to undermine him. "I don’t think there is anything in this report that would justify the campaign to undermine Simon Overland and his office," he said. Loading "Nor do I think there is anything in this report that should see the government lose confidence in Simon Overland."

- with Mex Cooper, Josh Gordon and Benjamin Preiss

