Victorian Police Commissioner Shane Patton has called for an increase in police powers to enable officers to arrest offenders aged between 10 and 13.

Commissioner Patton said the force should be able to arrest children as young as 10 when the age of criminal responsibility is lifted to 14 in 2027.

In April, the Victorian government voted to lift the criminal age of responsibility from 10 to 12, with a second rise due to take place in 2027.

Mr Patton said last week that the state must do more to target underage offenders, and he believes detaining children under 14 could play a vital part in that.

He said he held concerns over dangerous trends emerging among the state's youth, and particularly called for increased powers to be given when a child poses a risk to the community.

Officers need to have the ability to stop children suspected of carrying weapons or drugs, or driving at high speed, and to be able ask their name and age, Mr Patton told the Herald Sun.

"This isn't about putting kids in the cells," he said.

"There'll be a victim of crime but the child won't be able to be held accountable at law. We're just really worried we're going to have some young kid who is driving at speed on a freeway who is involved in a multiple fatality that they've caused."

Mr Patton said the police force had approached the state government about granting the new powers after the crime responsibility age shifts.

In May the Commissioner apologised at the Yoorrook Justice Commission for racist actions and cover-ups carried out by Victorian police.

Days later, he admitted Victorian Police's cultural awareness training would not be rolled out completely until the end of next year and involves just 3.5 hours of education.

Political commentator Scott Emerson told Weekend Today that police are "worried about the lifting of the age of criminal responsibility to 14".

"The police are scratching their heads, what are they going to do with these kids? They're worried they won't be able to do anything with them, if they're under the age of criminal responsibility," he said.

"This is for the police commissioner, he is trying to say give us at least some capacity to deal with these juvenile thugs that may be out of control but under the age of criminal responsibility."

The pace of reform has been criticised by medical authorities, legal experts and Indigenous organisations, who say the age should be raised to 14 immediately.

In April, Youth Affairs Council Victoria chief executive Katherine Ellis said that "instead of locking up children and young people, it is far better to invest resources into wraparound services which improve health and community outcomes for these children".

"All the evidence and human rights standards clearly recommend a minimum of 14 years, without exceptions, to ensure better outcomes for the children and their communities, now and for the long term," she said.