More than 200 overseas officers apply to join SA Police after in-person recruiting push

A bold SA Police move to look overseas for more officers is paying off, with hundreds hoping to hit the beat Down Under.

More than 200 overseas police officers have applied to become SA cops on the back of international recruiting seminars, as the state government ramps up efforts to tackle crippling attrition in the force.

An SA Police delegation and Police Minister Joe Szakacs last month headed overseas where they held several recruitment seminars as part of a drive to recruit up to 200 experienced officers from the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand.

The 201 applications means SA Police could fill its recruitment target less than seven months after launching its campaign if all applicants were successful.

Mr Szakacs attended sessions in Birmingham and London, while SA Police representatives, including the department’s recruitment team and former UK officers who previously made the move to Australia, went to sessions in the two cities as well as Glasgow and Dublin.

More than 200 overseas police officers have applied to join SA Police after an in-person recruiting drive in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

About 750 officers registered to attend the in-person sessions, held as part of the Down Under Live Expo.

Under the project, officers with a minimum three years’ experience are being targeted.

If successful, overseas applicants would be required to complete a bridging course at the Fort Largs Police Academy, with the first recruits expected to start their training by the middle of the year.

The state government has committed financial support for successful applicants, including covering the cost of visas for United Kingdom and Ireland officers and their families.

In 2004, then police commissioner Mal Hyde recruited heavily from the UK, with more than 500 overseas officers joining SA Police in seven years.

Mr Szakacs said he was heartened by “overwhelming levels of enthusiasm” from overseas applicants.

Police Minister Joe Szakacs said he was confident SA Police’s overseas recruitment drive would get more officers on the frontline. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

“Our beautiful natural environment, strong public services, and high quality of life are proving to be major drawcards for police who are considering a move,” Mr Szakacs said.

“Our government has already delivered a major increase in the recruitment of local candidates including offering career pathway opportunities through schools.

“By recruiting up to 200 police from the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, we will be able to boost an already strong local police service with a further injection of experienced staff.

“I am confident that the additional effort SA is putting into international recruitment will convert to applications and get more police on the frontline sooner to support community safety.”

In December, The Advertiser revealed hundreds of police officers planned to leave the job in the next five years, including almost a quarter of the state’s country cops.

Other Australian states have also looked overseas to fill shortages in key frontline operational areas.