Police Union claims applicants who failed SA Police’s IQ and personality profiling tests will be reassessed for a second chance

Police Union boss Wade Burns has revealed changes to SAPOL’s recruitment process leaving critics worried about recruitment standards.

Police Association president Wade Burns has revealed SA Police will reconsider applicants who had previously failed competency tests. Picture: Supplied

Police applicants who have previously failed competency tests, including psychometric and probity screening, will be reconsidered by SA Police in a desperate bid to get more cops on the beat.

In a letter from Police Association of South Australia president Wade Burns, it was revealed SA Police will reconsider applicants who previously failed competency tests.

“From about June 2024, (SA Police) senior management applied pressure to the recruiting section to increase the number of recruits commencing at the academy,” he wrote.

“(SA Police) management instructed members in recruiting to review all previous failed recruit applications and reassess their suitability.”

The review would include applicants who had previously failed psychometric and probity testing, which assesses a candidate’s suitability based on their cognitive abilities and ethical standards.

If an applicant passes the second review they would begin training at the Police Academy.

Mr Burns said police union members had flagged concerns SA Police might be “breaching work, health and safety obligations with these recruitment practices”.

“Given the approach to accept applicants who might be rated as unsuitable, members have flagged obvious risks to the recruit, other police members and community safety,” he wrote.

Mr Burns told The Advertiser it was critical for SA Police to reach their staffing goals “with zero compromises on recruiting standards”.

“(SA Police needs) to ensure fundamental recruitment standards are upheld and that every officer is fully equipped to confront every challenge of modern policing,” he said.

“Any compromise in standards during recruitment not only endangers our members but also undermines public trust.”

It comes after The Advertiser revealed prospective police cadets will no longer be required to pass spelling and numeracy tests. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

A police spokesman said they continue to identify applicants for the police academy.

“SAPOL is committed to maintaining a fit-for-purpose recruitment process that identifies applicants with aligned values and potential to be developed at the academy,” the spokesman said.

“Once at the academy, cadets have the resources in place to be supported throughout their course to ensure they build required capabilities and are competent in all manner of skills before they graduate. The standards of our graduating police officers has not changed.”

The spokesman said SA Police “requires applicants to participate in psychometric testing that includes IQ and personality profiling” and where necessary “applicants may be further required to participate in a psychological review with a registered psychologist”.

“Screening and probity checks are undertaken throughout the recruitment process,” police said.

It comes after The Advertiser revealed prospective police cadets will no longer be required to pass spelling and numeracy tests to allow more young people to be accepted into the Police Academy.

The Law Society of South Australia expressed their concerns over lowering the threshold, saying inadequate spelling and numeracy skills could jeopardise criminal court cases.

Originally published as Police Union claims applicants who failed SA Police’s IQ and personality profiling tests will be reassessed for a second chance