Published Wednesday, 13 June, 2007 at 11:23 AM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
ROB FUDGES THE FIGURES AGAIN
Rob Messenger has again demonstrated his lack of understanding when it comes to police service recruitment and growth.
His claim that there could be an overall drop in police numbers this year is simply ridiculous.
Since the Beattie Government was first elected in 1998 we have increased police numbers every year, from 6,800 when the National Party was in government to over 9,500 today.
This year’s State Budget provides an additional 200 sworn officer positions, on top of the overall recruitment figures.
Rob Messenger doesn’t understand that these 200 new positions are in addition to the number of police that the Queensland Police Service recruits every year.
In the coming year, police are expected to recruit and train 691 officers. Last financial year, 703 new officers were recruited and in 2005/06 the total number of recruits was 557.
These high figures ensure police numbers continue to accommodate for attrition through resignation, death and retirement.
In addition to the 200 new police positions created in this year’s budget, more police are expected to return to the beat, as a result of our comprehensive civilianisation strategy, with 167 new civilians to be employed as a result of new State Government funding.
Rob’s claim that there may not be enough police to fill the 29 new positions announced last week for Queensland Indigenous communities is completely baseless.
These positions, as well as the vacancies created by officers seconded to work in the State’s Airports, will be filled, with new recruits well and truly covering the new vacancies.
Rob’s claim the rate of separation in Queensland is excessive is wrong.
Since 1998, less than 300 police officers have left the Queensland Police Service every year.
In an organisation of 9,500 police, this figure is not unusual and certainly not excessive.
In fact, the separation rate in the Queensland Police Service is around 3%, which is much lower than any other public service organisation in this state, which can be as high as 6.5%
Rob knows he is being misleading with these figures, as I tabled them in Parliament two months ago.
The recruitment system in Queensland, together with this government’s continued commitment to increasing police numbers, ensures we will never see a drop in police numbers in this state.
Police release staffing figures at a District levels because not all police who work in a local area are attached to a specific police station.
These police include officers such as the traffic branch, the Child Protection Investigation Unit (formerly JAB), detectives, dog squads and Tactical Crime Squads.
MEDIA CONTACT: Troy Davies 3239 6218/ 0439 673 287
His claim that there could be an overall drop in police numbers this year is simply ridiculous.
Since the Beattie Government was first elected in 1998 we have increased police numbers every year, from 6,800 when the National Party was in government to over 9,500 today.
This year’s State Budget provides an additional 200 sworn officer positions, on top of the overall recruitment figures.
Rob Messenger doesn’t understand that these 200 new positions are in addition to the number of police that the Queensland Police Service recruits every year.
In the coming year, police are expected to recruit and train 691 officers. Last financial year, 703 new officers were recruited and in 2005/06 the total number of recruits was 557.
These high figures ensure police numbers continue to accommodate for attrition through resignation, death and retirement.
In addition to the 200 new police positions created in this year’s budget, more police are expected to return to the beat, as a result of our comprehensive civilianisation strategy, with 167 new civilians to be employed as a result of new State Government funding.
Rob’s claim that there may not be enough police to fill the 29 new positions announced last week for Queensland Indigenous communities is completely baseless.
These positions, as well as the vacancies created by officers seconded to work in the State’s Airports, will be filled, with new recruits well and truly covering the new vacancies.
Rob’s claim the rate of separation in Queensland is excessive is wrong.
Since 1998, less than 300 police officers have left the Queensland Police Service every year.
In an organisation of 9,500 police, this figure is not unusual and certainly not excessive.
In fact, the separation rate in the Queensland Police Service is around 3%, which is much lower than any other public service organisation in this state, which can be as high as 6.5%
Rob knows he is being misleading with these figures, as I tabled them in Parliament two months ago.
The recruitment system in Queensland, together with this government’s continued commitment to increasing police numbers, ensures we will never see a drop in police numbers in this state.
Police release staffing figures at a District levels because not all police who work in a local area are attached to a specific police station.
These police include officers such as the traffic branch, the Child Protection Investigation Unit (formerly JAB), detectives, dog squads and Tactical Crime Squads.
MEDIA CONTACT: Troy Davies 3239 6218/ 0439 673 287