Premier Chris Minns gives payday to NSW Police recruits to fix cop shortage

NSW Police recruits are in for a major payday with the Minns government promising to pay them a huge amount for 16 weeks training, ending the days of them being out of pocket just to study at the Goulburn academy. Find out how much they’ll get.

Chris Minns has backed NSW Police in a big way.

NSW Police recruits are in for a major payday with the Minns government promising to pay them $30,000 for 16 weeks training, ending the days of them being out of pocket just to study at the Goulburn academy.

In an effort to fix the force’s dire recruitment problems Premier Chris Minns will today announce cops in training will be paid a full-time wage, in a $45 million move that will bring NSW in line with other police forces – some of who have been luring potential recruits interstate.

Student officers will be paid a total of $30,984 over the 16-weeks they are at the Goulburn Police Academy, in a major financial commitment from the government as they try to fill more than 1500 current vacancies.

The announcement comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed the situation had reached a point that police have had discussions about taking detectives off investigations and putting them back into cars and trucks, to conduct front line duties.

Premier Minns urged anyone who had ever considered joining the police to do so now, saying he hoped the new funding proposal would reduce the amount of cops currently in the force who are “stretched and overworked”.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the move shows his government back police. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

“We owe a great debt of gratitude to NSW Police and this announcement makes it clear that the NSW Labor Government backs our police officers 100 per cent,” he said.

“I’m committed to improving working conditions, stopping our frontline workers quitting and attracting more people to these vital roles – that’s why we are introducing this new incentive for future police officers.

“Police do an incredible job to keep us safe, but the truth is they are stretched and overworked, and we can’t fix that if we don’t recruit and retain more officers.”

The new funding policy does not come into force until March 2024, but trainees who are among the current classes at the Goulburn Police Academy will receive a pro-rata scholarship to cover the $17,000 fee to study policing through Charles Sturt University.

Being left with a HECS debt for their study, on top of not earning a wage for 16 weeks, had made the NSW Police course unappealing.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the funding is a ‘game changer’. Picture: Adam Yip

Adding to that lucrative incentives from elsewhere saw NSW police lured interstate, with at least five officers join the Queensland Police Force from one station alone, because of a $20,000 cash relocation incentive they were offered.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb admitted there had been significant “barriers” in recruiting cops in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This announcement is a game changer for our organisation,” Commissioner Webb said.

“Breaking down the barriers for people to leave one job and start with us without being financially disadvantaged is the most attractive incentive we’ve been able to offer for many years.”

Police Minister Yasmin Catley said she hoped this “historic” announcement would fix the state’s recruitment issues.

“I’ve heard many stories of people wanting to change careers and join the NSW Police Force but who simply cannot afford to train for four months without income,” Minister Catley said.

“I’m thrilled that’s about to change.”

In a statement to The Daily Telegraph, Police Association president Kevin Morton said the funding opened the opportunity to be a police officer to young people who may have been unable to afford being left out of pocket while they studied.

“Today is the day that men and women with young families or a mortgage can pursue the dream of being a police officer in NSW,” Mr Morton said.