Police reveal understaffing, Covid duties hit on their wellbeing

The police union is launching a staffing campaign after a survey of members revealed the negative impact of enforcing Covid restrictions on rank-and-file officers.

A major survey of rank-and-file police has revealed the toll the combined effects of chronic understaffing and additional duties enforcing Covid restrictions are taking on their wellbeing.

Commissioned by the Police Association, the survey found 65 per cent of officers’ personal lives had been negatively impacted and more than half reported their relationships with family and friends had suffered as a result.

The survey of 1037 officers also revealed 71 per cent have had their daily tasks impacted and many were experiencing mental distress because of fatigue caused by understaffing, being forced to cancel plans with family and friends because of last minute shift changes and working excessive amounts of overtime.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens says the survey results are not surprising. Picture: Simon Cross

Association president Mark Carroll said the survey was significant and the results “should not come as a surprise to SAPOL”.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and incoming Police Minister Joe Szakacs were provided with the survey results at the weekend and the union will be seeking talks over the situation.

“Members are at breaking point, they’re doing their best, but the capacity just doesn’t match community demand anymore,’’ Mr Carroll said.

“A stunning number of members, almost three-quarters, are having their jobs railroaded by never-ending Covid duties and deployments. This needs to end.

“And the force in general is being decimated by the number of cops in quarantine. We need more staff, but more importantly, we need police doing police work.’’

The union will on Monday launch an advertising campaign highlighting the understaffing situation and problems it is causing frontline officers.

Police Association of South Australia president Mark Carroll.

Mr Carroll said the survey and campaign would highlight the impact Covid has had on first responders.

“Aside from nurses and health care workers, police officers have borne the brunt of the pandemic in their workplace,’’ he said.

“Virtually every officer has been impacted in some way because of their role and they have been forced to undertake duties they have never done before, many of which were never police roles.’’

Participants cited increased workloads to cover for others doing Covid duties, bans on annual leave and sudden shift changes.

Police on the job during the pandemic. Picture: Emma Brasier.

Mr Stevens said while the survey results were not surprising, he was not playing down the concerns of officers.

“While the pandemic is not yet over, I am trying to get as many sworn officers as I can back on the front line and a return to normal duties,’’ the Police Commissioner said.

At the height of the pandemic when border restrictions were in place there were around 600 officers directly involved, but as of Sunday there were only 57.

“I acknowledge the strain this has had on the majority of our workforce,’’ he said.

“I am now working with the executive of SAPOL to get people on leave; to get some respite to the ongoing commitment to the pandemic; and to get back to core policing as we know it.”