Police Commissioner Grant Stevens admits their resources won’t be enough if Adelaide hosts COP31

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has revealed he had hoped to be retired before the Conference of Parties came to SA because reinforcements will have to be called in if the bid is successful.

South Australia Police does not have enough manpower to provide security if Adelaide wins the bid to host the COP31 climate change conference in 2026, the top cop revealed.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens revealed he hoped the COP summit – Conference of Parties – would be held after his retirement.

“When I was first told about COP31, and the significance of the event, and the scale of it, I was pretty relieved that it was in 2031 because there’s every chance I might be retired and watching from the sidelines,” he told FIVEaa on Wednesday.

“And then they said: ‘No, COP31 is in 2026’.”

Since coming to terms with the stark fact that COP31 will be a responsibility that will fall on his shoulder, Mr Stevens said they’ve already started low level planning and preparations.

“We have been working with the Commonwealth and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet here,” he said.

“(We’re) looking at the potential security requirements if we were to secure COP31.”

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens reveals the challenges of providing security for COP31 event. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Stevens explained the event would be “a significant undertaking” from a security point of view, as they will be managing approximately 40,000 conference participants and provide dignitary protection, building security, and motorcades.

Mr Stevens said “without doubt” they will need support from other jurisdictions.

“I’ve already briefed other commissioners around Australia about the scale and significance of this event and they all indicated immediately that they’re here to help,” he said.

“We’ll be bringing in police capabilities – specialist capabilities – from other jurisdictions around Australia and probably New Zealand as well.”

The UN is currently deciding between Australia and Turkey as the hosting countries.

The COP summit is a meeting of 197 nations and is the ultimate climate change decision-making body of the United Nations.

If South Australia’s bid was successful, it would be staged at the Convention Centre in November 2026, with the wider centre precinct forming the necessary secure zone and public event area.

The event would generate an economic benefit upwards of $500m.