NT Police lured down south in nationwide recruitment push

Southerners are looking to lure cops away from the Territory amid high attrition rates.

SOUTHERN states are looking to the Territory to bolster their own police forces sparking fears of even more NT cops jumping ship.

South Australia Police have paid for multiple quarter page splashes in the NT News calling for cadets and experienced officers to move to “the most liveable city in Australia”.

The advertising push has concerned NT Police Association President Paul McCue, who said the Territory was already struggling to retain its workers.

“We are concerned with retention and attrition rates and have been for some time,” he said.

Mr McCue said the cop churn rate in the Territory was significantly higher than the national average, with the latest NT PFES annual report finding attrition rates had nearly doubled from 4.5 per cent to 8.5 per cent.

Mr McCue said while interstate recruitment was not unheard of, he was concerned that South Australia’s latest push offers incentives for experienced officers.

“They have not recruited for experienced officers for some time,” he said.

“We’re got police officers from SA. (Previously) if they wanted to move home they would start from scratch.

“Now they can get streamlined training … that’s pretty attractive for them.

“(And) the top end of South Australia is very similar to NT policing, as is Queensland.

“We can’t afford to lose any experienced officers.”

A NTPA survey released in September found 60 per cent of officers had applied or were considering applying for a job outside of the NT Police.

Mr McCue said based on anecdotal evidence the biggest rival employer of NT Police was other Australian forces.

“They want to remain a police officer – just not in the Territory,” he said.

Mr McCue again called for an official review into the exit interviews to determine the churn factors in the Territory.

He said many officers had reported to the union that they were unhappy with the current direction of the NT Police and felt unsupported in their work.

Mr McCue said NT salaries had to “remain competitive”, particularly as Tasmania and the Australian Federal Police were expected to launch their campaigns soon.

NT Police Senior Sergeant Serge Bouma said the recruitment team was committed to finding the best people for the Territory.

“Each jurisdiction across Australia has ramped up recruitment efforts over the course of the past two years, and recruiting beyond state borders to attract the best possible applicants is not only common place, it is smart,” Sgt Bouma said.

“(It) recognises that the unique skills that we look for in our recruits exists across the nation,” he said.

But Sgt Bouma said the force was also looking closer to home, with the past three rounds of new constable and auxiliary squads dominated by Territorians.

“The quality of local applicants is clearly something that other jurisdictions want to tap into,” he said.

“But we are eager to provide opportunities to home grown applicants.”

Assistant Commissioner People and Cultural Reform Bruce Porter added that when housing and other allowances were included the salary package was “the most attractive in the country”.

“We remain an attractive employer for many people wanting to serve and protect their community,” Mr Porter said.

“We have made a focus of recruiting Territorians, people who know the Territory and the people in our community.”

He said the force had welcomed 189 newly graduated constables, 47 police auxiliaries and ten Aboriginal Community Police Officers since January 2021.

Mr Porter said in the past financial year there were an additional 46-positions compared to the previous year.

A South Australian Police spokeswoman said the interstate advertising would continue as part of its permanent campaign for new officers.

“SAPOL have received recruiting inquiries from a number of interstate candidates and will continue to regularly advertise interstate as part of our broader marketing regimen,” she said.

Advertised First-year Police pay rates

Figures are per annum, excluding penalties and allowances.

WA, Probation: $77,284

NSW Probationary Constable: $76,425

VIC, Probationary Constable: $73,026

NT, Constable 1: $72,192

SA, Probationary Constable: $69,674

AFP/ACT, following Graduate program: $62,703

QLD, First Year Constable: $61,792

TAS, Constable level 1: $61,680