SA Police union gives damning verdict on controversial policing model

The vast majority of the state’s frontline officers believe SA Police’s controversial district policing model should be scrapped, a startling survey reveals.

A major survey of frontline police officers has rejected the Police Department’s controversial district policing model, with the majority believing it should be scrapped.

Of the 1,349 officers who took part in the Police Association’s workplace survey, 81 per cent said they did not support the model and 78 per cent said they believed it should be abolished.

Association leaders will on Thursday meet with Premier Peter Malinauskas and Police Minister Joe Szakacs to discuss the survey results and ongoing concerns surrounding resourcing and morale.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Emma Brasier

Mark Carroll, President of the Police Association of South Australia. Picture: Supplied

In a letter sent to members on Tuesday night outlining the survey results, Association President Mark Carroll said they were a “damning assessment’’ of the policing model and “impossible for the commissioner to ignore.’’

“It’s hard to imagine anybody in the SAPOL executive leadership team could be shocked by these results,” Mr Carroll said.

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

“But sadly, they often appear to be startled by obvious truths. We’ve been telling the commissioner for a long time there was almost zero support for the imported policing model because it was failing members and the community.

“We weren’t doing it for kicks. We were relaying to him what members were overwhelmingly telling – and showing – us.”

The association contends the district policing model does not provide sufficient resources to meet both the demand for police services and ensure the health and safety of its members. Delegates last year passed a vote of no confidence in the model.

Frontline officers have also revealed many types of crime – such as minor drug crime, theft and property offences – are not being proactively policed as intended under the model because all available officers are involved in response taskings.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens declined to comment on the survey results until they had been considered, but he has previously conceded the model is not working as intended because of severe resourcing issues due to poor recruiting and high attrition rates, but has resisted calls to review the model.

The survey also revealed only six per cent of members had confidence in SAPOL to deliver an extended-hours roster to the appropriate areas.

Introduction of the extended hours roster following a trial was reached as part of the 2016 enterprise bargaining package. It allows for more days off for officers because of the extra hours worked each shift, providing a better work/life balance.

In the letter Mr Carroll states the association would provide the survey data directly to the Malinauskas Government “which simply must intervene’’.

“This feedback from members – now on the record for all to see – is an ugly truth neither SAPOL nor the government can hide from,” Mr Carroll said.

“They have to face it, and the association is going to ensure they do.”