189 police security officers to be hired to free up sworn officers for frontline duties

An additional 189 police security officers will be recruited, allowing more sworn SA Police officers to be redeployed to frontline duties.

An additional 189 police security officers will be recruited in a major initiative that will help ease the resource crisis that continues to grip the police department.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan has revealed Police Commissioner Grant Stevens will be given $81.8m in funding over the next four years in Thursday’s state budget to fund the extra PSOs – a move that will allow more sworn officers to be redeployed to frontline duties.

The additional PSOs will join around 140 already employed who are about to be deployed in two phases to a range of new roles across the metropolitan area to free up sworn officers.

Police security officers graduating with Superintendent Carolyn Schild at the Police Academy, January 17, 2022. Picture: Brenton Edwards

This rollout initially includes deploying PSOs to convey and guard prisoners at four metropolitan custodial facilities – a move that will alone free up 45 sworn police officers for other duties – conveying people detained under the Mental Health Act and children under guardianship orders to their place of care.

The second phase will see PSOs replace sworn police officers undertaking roles including conveying and guarding exhibit property, guarding crime scenes, traffic cordons at major incidents, security services at major events, the recovery of stolen vehicles and conducting welfare checks on vulnerable people.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Commissioner Stevens welcomed the funding boost for the PSOs, which would help ease the resource shortages.

“It enables us to deploy appropriately trained and supported people into roles that best utilise their skills, knowledge and training,’’ he said.

“PSOs are well equipped to support frontline policing and SAPOL looks forward to implementing the expanded PSO model.”

Mr Mullighan said the move would “release more police officers into frontline roles”.

“The state government is committed to ensuring we bolster policing resources and provide as many opportunities to make a fulfilling career within SAPOL as possible,’’ he said.

“This significant investment of creating the opportunity to recruit nearly 200 new sworn PSOs to SAPOL’s ranks will assist in sharing responsibilities with frontline police to have wider coverage across the state’’.

Police Minister Joe Szakacs said the PSOs would take on a “host of new responsibilities and challenges”.

“This substantial resourcing boost to permanent PSO numbers is the first increase to sworn staff since 2018,’’ he said.

The introduction of PSOs to traditional police roles has been under way for more than a year to help alleviate the ongoing resourcing crisis that has resulted from increased resignations and a downturn in recruit numbers that has culminated in a shortfall of almost 200 officers.

Mr Stevens said recent advertising campaigns and other measures had assisted in lifting recruiting numbers.

“We are seeing an increase, we have filled every course we have scheduled for the last few months but there is still more to do,’’ he said.

He said it was unclear if the recent relaxing of dress standards had been successful.