Victoria Police struggling to retain ‘burnt-out’ experienced officers despite active recruitment

Victoria Police’s efforts to bolster its force continue to fall short despite actively recruiting new members, with “burnt-out” officers turning in their uniform amid the ongoing pay dispute.

Police numbers dropped by 157 in 12 months, despite about 1000 recruits graduating from the force’s academy.

New figures show the Victoria Police headcount as at December 31 last year was 16,210, compared to 16,367 a year earlier.

The number of departures is a major factor in the inability to fill a high rate of vacancies, which stood at 1086 three months ago.

Members resigning or retiring at high levels has been of concern for the force for some time.

“Victoria Police has been very open about its vacancies and is working hard to fill these positions while supporting the frontline,” a spokesman said.

The spokesman said police departments in other Australian jurisdictions and overseas were experiencing similar difficulties.

Police numbers continue to dip as frustrated officers leave the force. Picture: Supplied.

The Sunday Herald Sun revealed last week that the Queensland Police Service was offering $20,000 cash bonus and relocation payments in an attempt to get recruits.

A police source said one of the most worrying elements of the exodus was the number quitting who were experienced staff with more than a decade of service.

“It’s a brain-drain. The average length of service (of those leaving) would be 10 years or above. You can’t replace that,” he said.

“People are burnt-out. That goes for a lot of detectives as well.”

The source told the Herald Sun that academy capacity in Victoria meant only a limited number of applicants could be pushed through.

Single-squad intakes are now being run after double-squad intakes were used to push through more graduates last year.

The Herald Sun has been told application numbers remain high with 300 in the past fortnight and 7000 last year.

The departures have meant promises of boosted frontline police numbers have been impossible to meet.

Generic Police / cop stock photos. Victoria Police Officers, Melbourne, Australia

The force was funded for 17,020 full-time equivalent positions but, as at December 31, had 15,934 of those.

A high proportion of the 1086 vacancies is the number of workers not available because of ill-health.

Victoria Police figures showed there were 640 off on WorkCover in August last year, most with mental injury.

“Victoria Police is supporting our hardworking police through a range of measures,” the spokesman said.

“This includes boosting mental health and wellbeing services to prevent and reduce the impact of work-related psychological harm.”

The force has faced an expanded range of demand in the past decade.

Youth crime has been a major drain on resources and resulted in the establishment of Operation Trinity, which commits 70 members every night of the year in the eastern and southeastern aggravated burglary and car theft trouble spot.

More recently, there have been widespread arson cases linked to conflict over the illicit tobacco trade.