Canberra will get 126 new police officers after continued complaints about the territory having the lowest number of police per capita in Australia.
ACT Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan has been calling for extra police, saying the capital's ratio of 205 officers per 100,000 people is too low.
The Canberra Liberals and the Australian Federal Police Association have also been demanding additional funding for police, with the ACT the lowest-spending jurisdiction when it comes to police services.
The most recent Productivity Commission report on government services found the ACT spent $452.67 per person on policing in the 12 months to June 2022, well below the national average of $574.57.
But the ACT government is now making its single biggest investment in ACT Policing with $107 million over five years, which includes funding for an additional annual recruitment course.
Police Minister Mick Gentleman said the new officers would be deployed across the capital, especially in growing areas like Molonglo where the population is expected to almost double by 2028.
"It really is a response to the growing need for more police in the territory," he said.
"[Police] interactions with the community at the early point are so important .
"If we can get down and interact in the community the way we see the police service model operating in other jurisdictions, it will mean we will see less crime, less opportunity for those people to enter the criminal justice system."
Extra staff will also be assigned to the watch house to "better assure the safety and security" of police officers and those in custody.
The Police Ambulance and Clinician Early Response (PACER) team will also continue, enabling "a more vigilant and responsive approach to mental health support".
Some of the funding will go towards operational equipment, vehicles and body-worn cameras, as well as an evaluation of police station facilities in Woden, the city and the ACT Policing headquarters.
"This funding injection represents a significant change for ACT Policing," Mr Gentleman said.
"With additional officers and modern resources, they will be better equipped to respond to the evolving challenges of law enforcement and to protect the rights and safety of the people we serve."