Police recruits heading to the Northern Rivers

As the latest cohort of police recruits graduate, the Northern Rivers will see a number of new officers assigned to the region.

NEW RECRUITS: Of the 182 new recruits, a number will be headed to the Northern Rivers to commence duties from Monday August 16, 2021. File Photo.

As NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller welcomed 182 new probationary constables in a private attestation ceremony last week, the question we all want answered is: How many will be assigned to the Northern Rivers?

According to a NSW Police spokeswoman, of the 182 new recruits, four will be assigned to Richmond Police District and two will be assigned to Tweed Byron Police District.

It is understood that they new recruits will commence duty at their first postings from Monday August 16.

Commissioner Fuller acknowledged they were commencing a challenging career at a challenging time.

“The pandemic is impacting many aspects of our lives but as police, we have taken an oath – a promise – to protect and serve the people of this state while exercising the highest level of integrity,” he said.

“Despite the challenges ahead, our newest recruits can expect a rewarding career and will have the camaraderie and guidance of their new policing family every step of the way.

“I hope these officers are as proud to join the NSW Police Force as I am to swear them in. I’m looking forward to seeing them out on the beat.”

The students of Class 348 were then sworn in by Commissioner Fuller during the Covid-Safe ceremony on Friday August 13.

It was a very different ceremony for the new probationary constables with social distancing and mass gathering directions meaning their attestation ceremony was not witnessed by family, friends or media,

The number of visiting police has also been restricted and their movements restricted in line with the relevant Public Health Orders.

Class 348 will undertake a year of on-the-job training and complete the Associate Degree in Policing Practice by distance education with Charles Sturt University before being confirmed to the rank of constable.

CLASS 348

* A total of 182 recruits comprising 121 men and 61 women.

* Of the probationary constables attesting today, six recruits are indigenous, with two recruits joining through the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) program.

* 159 recruits were born in Australia and 23 were born overseas with countries of origin including: Canada, China, Columbia, Fiji, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Syria, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.

* Languages in addition to English spoken by students in Class 348 include Assyrian, Arabic, Dari, Greek, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Urdu.

* The youngest recruits are aged 19, while the oldest are aged 49.