Veteran cop Gary Wills awarded SAPOL honour as local cops top the nation in new report

A new report has found South Australians are the most satisfied in the nation when it comes to their police force. But what do you think? Have your say in our poll.

South Australia is the most protected state in the country, with the most police officers per capita and the lowest rate of offenders re-entering correctional facilities, a new report claims.

South Australia is the most protected state in the country, with the most police officers per capita and the lowest rate of offenders re-entering correctional facilities, a new report claims.

According the 2022-23 Report on Government Services (ROGS), South Australia has the highest number of police officers compared to every other state, with 238 operational sworn staff per 100,000 people.

That figure is reportedly eight per cent higher than the national average of 221 for every 100,000 people.

Additionally, the report found the public’s satisfaction with SAPOL’s services is the highest across the country, with 78.8 per cent of South Australia’s population reporting a positive experience compared with 73.9 per cent nationally.

It comes amid a recruitment drive aiming to bring experienced police officers from the UK, New Zealand and Ireland over to Australia to join the South Australian police force.

Senior Constable Gary Wills has served as a police officer for more than three decades, starting in Northern Ireland before took a role here in 2008.

He was named South Australia Police Officer of the Year for his ongoing support of young people in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

“I flew over to London to do SAPOL’s entrance exam and thought I had no chance, and told my wife Janice not to buy the sunscreen, but fortunately I came through,” Senior Constable Wills said.

Senior Constable Gary Wills was the 2023 South Australia Police Officer of the Year, awarded for ongoing support of young people north of Adelaide. Picture: SA Police

A pilot project start in 2021 and headed by Senior Constable Wills has reduced the number of local missing persons reports involving young people by 62 per cent.

“Blue Rose isn’t a job, it’s a goal. Out of my 31 years of service I have had more rewards in the past two years from seeing results of the project,” he said.

“It is about listening to these young people, hearing what their problems are and teaching them how to problem solve.

“I’ve developed many relationships with young people and the real reward is when you have someone who doesn’t become a statistic.”

Police and emergency services minister Joe Szakacs said the positive results of the ROGS shows efforts to gain more police officers in South Australia are working.

“We’re committed to recruiting 300 more each year over three years,” Mr Szakacs said.

The report also found the rate of reoffending is significantly lower than other states, with the rate of return to corrective services at 36.9 per cent – about 15 percentage points lower than the rest of the country.

“We’re also committed to reducing recidivist offending, which not only causes harm and trauma within our community, but also places a significant strain on our police, courts and corrections resources and a large financial cost.”

However, despite the positive report results, police sources have recently told The Advertiser a lack of resources is impacting SAPOL’s ability to execute arrest warrants.

“The key issue is the lack of people doing the job,” one officer said.

“You need the resources to start looking for these people.

“When you don’t have boots on the ground you can’t do it.”

Another officer said police were “too busy doing response work” to follow up on warrants, even for serious offenders.

In December, The Advertiser also revealed a recent survey showed a quarter of the state’s cops were planning to leave their roles within five years.

Respondents said their reasons to leave included unsustainable workloads and staffing shortages, as well as issues with salaries.

Originally published as Veteran cop Gary Wills awarded SAPOL honour as local cops top the nation in new report