SA Police union passes vote of no confidence in policing model
SA’s police union has passed a vote of no confidence in an SAPOL policing model they say is contributing to a chronic manpower shortage.
SA News
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Police union delegates have unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in SAPOL’s new district policing model, stating it has failed both frontline police and the community.
The emergency meeting of Police Association delegates also passed resolutions calling on Police Commissioner Grant Stevens to outline what services will be cut to alleviate the current manpower crisis and work collaboratively with the union to overcome the shortages.
The meeting was called in response to growing concern among frontline police officers at increasingly poor morale caused by manpower shortages stemming from a severe shortfall of new recruits and the resource intensive District Policing Model.
Association president Mark Carroll said the meeting “was a last resort for the delegates.’’
“They know morale in the force is at an all time low, the staffing issues are critical and the South Australian community is suffering as a direct result,’’ he said.
“The level of service members should be providing just isn’t happening.
“They were very strong in expressing a vote of no confidence in the district policing model and in proposing that he urgently works with the association on some of the solutions we have put forward.’’
These included offering re-employment contracts to recently resigned officers, trialling a new extended hours roster and combining district policing teams and response teams.
The delegates acknowledged the commitment by the Labor government to establish the premier’s taskforce that will examine resourcing issues in the long term.
Mr Stevens last night acknowledged the resolutions that had been made by the delegates.
“At this time we do not intend to make any changes to the district policing model, although we are committed to ensure frontline response services are supported as much as possible,’’ he said.
“Some of the resolutions actually reflect work that is already underway and has been for some time.
“These included a review of recruiting to remove barriers and the consideration of offers of re-employment to recently retired or resigned members.’’
He said work was “well-advanced’’ in the work that would enable Protective Security Officers to undertake custody duties to free up sworn officers.
Mr Stevens noted that some of the resolutions were beyond the scope of SAPOL, such as additional funding for voluntary return to service.
In Budget Estimates on Wednesday Police Minister Joe Szakacs said he was aware of the low morale that had enveloped rank-and-file police officers because of the staffing crisis.
“There is no doubt there has been a significant toll that Covid operations and Covid more generally has taken on the SAPOL workforce,’’ he said.
Mr Szakacs said he had been in discussions with Mr Stevens concerning recruiting shortfalls since the election and supported measures being taken to attract recruits – including attempts to poach police from other states.
In response to questions from Opposition Police spokesman Tim Whetstone, it was revealed SAPOL is spending $500,000 on its new “Calling All’’ recruitment campaign and there had so far been 350 applicants who had responded since its launch over a month ago.
Besides attracting new applicants locally and from interstate, police were also contacting those who had previously applied but failed for whatever reason, canvassing recently retired officers or those who had resigned to see if they wanted to return and the application process had been reviewed to make it easier for applicants to undertake.
Mr Szakacs said there has been no request from SAPOL to recruit police from the United Kingdom because of the lack of local applicants, but he did not rule it out and “would consider it if asked.’’
Originally published as SA Police union passes vote of no confidence in policing model
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