Brimbank police's family violence unit.

Officers with the specialised unit were returned to normal police duties late last month rather than focusing solely on sorting out domestic violence incidents.

Speaking in State Parliament last week, Ms Hartland said the unit was a vital service. "Family violence is the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15-44. Brimbank has one of the highest rates of reported family violence incidents in Victoria."

Ms Hartland said it was a perfect example of lack of police resources in the area.

"We had that great big media circus checking bags at Footscray station to show that the government is tough on crime. Meanwhile, the crime that causes the most death, disability and illness behind closed doors cops a funding cut."

The unit's closure was a blow to family violence support agencies, women and children in the area.

"It's a disgrace that such an important community service is disbanded without proper consultation or transparency. The children of Brimbank deserve better.

"We simply cannot afford to have police specialists who have been trained to respond to complex cases of family violence being relocated to normal policing duties; it is such a waste of their skills, knowledge and training."

Brimbank police's Inspector Michael Grainger said the shift of officers in the unit back to general duties would be temporary and would not affect police response to domestic violence incidents.