NSW Police will have more than 3000 vacant positions by 2026 as recruitment numbers struggle

Despite claims the NSW Police is “net positive” for recruitment, an internal report has revealed the force is losing more officers than it can hire, with forecasts predicting there will be more than 3000 vacant positions by 2026.

NSW Police will have more than 3000 vacant positions by 2026 as recruitment numbers go backwards, with the workforce already about 2200 officers short of its operational capacity.

Internal police documents unveiled by upper house MP Rod Roberts during budget estimates revealed recruitment was tracking at about 1100 officers per year, while departures were tracking at 1400 per year.

The difference, the 2024 report noted, meant the number of vacancies were forecasted to be more than 3000 by 2026.

The concerning numbers come after Premier Chris Minns told budget estimates last week that police recruitment numbers were “net positive”.

In response to the grilling on Wednesday, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dean Smith said he would not “argue with the numbers”.

NSW Police is losing more officers than it can recruit, the report highlighted. Picture Police Media

“It is a forecast, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration,” he said.

Mr Roberts said the falling police numbers were a sign efforts to bolster recruitment weren’t working.

Upper House MP Rod Roberts raised the report in budget estimates on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“We’re doing the same thing day in and day out and I think the morale of the police force is at a current low because of the existing leadership and it doesn’t, at this moment, look like it is picking up,” he said.

Opposition police spokesman Paul Toole said NSW policing was in “dire straits”.

“At this rate, it will be a minimum five years before the NSW Police Force could possibly return to authorised strength and we could see a potential decrease in crime,” he said.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley told the committee she was “hopeful” the historic police pay rise and new paid training positions at the police academy would increase numbers going forward.