

Chief Commissioner Ken Lay has conceded that a key promise by the state government to assign two protective services officers at all metropolitan train stations would not be honoured in time for the November election.

But Premier Denis Napthine insists the commitment will be fully implemented by the November deadline, as the relationship between force command and the government becomes increasingly strained.

While Mr Lay confirmed the recruitment of 940 PSOs would be achieved in line with the government’s law-and-order campaign, he said some train stations would not receive two officers.

‘‘We’ll look at where they need to be and that’s where we’ll put them ... the 940 [PSOs] will be rolled out to every station where we think the greatest need is. If you do the sums, they won't get to every station,’’ he said.

Dr Napthine immediately rebuked the Chief Commissioner on Monday, when they appeared at the launch of an $18 million upgrade to the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley.