Help
Quote
British bobbies in line for SA
Jeremy Roberts
November 08, 2004
A SHORTAGE of police recruits has forced the South Australian Government to consider head-hunting bobbies from Britain so it can meet a promise to boost the state's force.
The Rann Government has pledged to find 200 extra police for South Australia's 4000-strong force by December next year.
But aggressive police recruitment programs in other states have made the Government's target hard to reach.
Such is the difficulty of finding suitable candidates the Government is likely to examine the recruitment of officers from overseas, particularly from Britain.
There are also calls for the state to consider relaxing the stringent standards of entry into the force to widen the pool of candidates.
Police sources cited the abolition of the 1.75m height rule as an example of a once-compulsory requirement that had been eased at no detriment to the force.
President of the State Police Association Peter Alexander supports the move to look for recruits overseas.
"We're very keen to see appropriate recruiting campaigns to encourage men and women to join the police – possibly from interstate and overseas if need be," he said.
But Mr Alexander warned that natural attrition in the force over the next 12 months meant more than 200 police would be needed.
"That could mean between 400 and 500 recruits need to be found," he said.
Mr Alexander said police were once recruited between the ages of 17 and 20, but today the average age of rookie cops was about 27 or 28.
"Maybe it's a time to look at our own recruitment policies," he said.
South Australia has for several years been a source of police for other states, in a brain-drain the force hopes will ease following the recent award of a 10.5 per cent pay rise over the next three years.
New Zealand police association director Chris Cahill predicted South Australia could soon find itself following Auckland, which allowed 80 police officers from Britain to immigrate in 2002 as a stop-gap measure to boost police numbers in the Kiwi city.
"I'd say South Australia is in the early stages of what happened in Auckland, and the immigration scheme is certainly worth a look," Mr Cahill said yesterday.
"It's been relatively successful – the majority of the British officers have stayed in Auckland, and they've brought a wealth of experience with them."
Police have told The Australian that even if the recruitment net were widened to include overseas candidates, they were sceptical the state target could be met by the December 2005 deadline.
Jeremy Roberts
November 08, 2004
A SHORTAGE of police recruits has forced the South Australian Government to consider head-hunting bobbies from Britain so it can meet a promise to boost the state's force.
The Rann Government has pledged to find 200 extra police for South Australia's 4000-strong force by December next year.
But aggressive police recruitment programs in other states have made the Government's target hard to reach.
Such is the difficulty of finding suitable candidates the Government is likely to examine the recruitment of officers from overseas, particularly from Britain.
There are also calls for the state to consider relaxing the stringent standards of entry into the force to widen the pool of candidates.
Police sources cited the abolition of the 1.75m height rule as an example of a once-compulsory requirement that had been eased at no detriment to the force.
President of the State Police Association Peter Alexander supports the move to look for recruits overseas.
"We're very keen to see appropriate recruiting campaigns to encourage men and women to join the police – possibly from interstate and overseas if need be," he said.
But Mr Alexander warned that natural attrition in the force over the next 12 months meant more than 200 police would be needed.
"That could mean between 400 and 500 recruits need to be found," he said.
Mr Alexander said police were once recruited between the ages of 17 and 20, but today the average age of rookie cops was about 27 or 28.
"Maybe it's a time to look at our own recruitment policies," he said.
South Australia has for several years been a source of police for other states, in a brain-drain the force hopes will ease following the recent award of a 10.5 per cent pay rise over the next three years.
New Zealand police association director Chris Cahill predicted South Australia could soon find itself following Auckland, which allowed 80 police officers from Britain to immigrate in 2002 as a stop-gap measure to boost police numbers in the Kiwi city.
"I'd say South Australia is in the early stages of what happened in Auckland, and the immigration scheme is certainly worth a look," Mr Cahill said yesterday.
"It's been relatively successful – the majority of the British officers have stayed in Auckland, and they've brought a wealth of experience with them."
Police have told The Australian that even if the recruitment net were widened to include overseas candidates, they were sceptical the state target could be met by the December 2005 deadline.
The Australian
This post has been edited by Bosun: 08 November 2004 - 10:31 AM
