Victoria's police union says there is "burning anger" among officers in the wake of the Bourke Street rampage over policies they believe hinder them intercepting "drug-crazed lunatics".
The comment comes as Victoria Police stands by a decision not to shoot at or ram the car involved in last week's incident that left five dead and dozens injured.
"Our members' views around the current pursuit policy range from great disappointment to burning anger," Police Association of Victoria assistant secretary Bruce McKenzie told reporters on Wednesday.
"The current pursuit policy handcuffs them considerably when it ought to be our members who are handcuffing the drug-crazed lunatics that seem to be appearing on our streets."
Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp defended the pursuit policy, saying Victoria Police had to strike a balance between protecting the community and its members and would not pursue offenders driving on the wrong side of the road or at high speed.
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He also told reporters on Wednesday real-life pursuits are not like they are in the movie Lethal Weapon where, when cars are shot at, the driver dies and the car stops immediately.
"It's extremely difficult to shoot at a moving vehicle. It's even more difficult to hit a tyre ... the vehicle will not stop, it will travel forward," he told reporters.
"There's every likelihood we might miss the vehicle and who knows where that round or those rounds might go."
Mr Crisp says he's "extremely disappointed" an email he sent to members last September, which he says was a "safety message" following an increase in offenders ramming police vehicles, was reported this week in the media as a "directive".
The email told officers not to shoot at or intercept stolen or suspect cars.
"Plan your approach and response when intercepting a stolen or suspect vehicle - time is on your side," the email read, as published by the Herald Sun on Wednesday.
James Gargasoulas, 26, who has been charged with murder, was followed by police for hours before the alleged attack, raising questions about why they had not stopped him.
The entire event and incidents leading up to it, including bail laws and the police response will be examined in a coronial review.
