Boost to frontline lowest in decades with more cops hitting the beat under Newman era

A major police data leak has put a spotlight on the shocking number of cops working the frontline. Read the full investigation

Labor across three terms of government have put fewer extra police on the frontline than the Newman LNP Government did in one, a major leak of police staffing data reveals.

The officer headcount growth across Queensland under the current government is the lowest in almost two decades, according to the confidential Queensland Police Service (QPS) Strength History report.

The key findings show:

• The actual headcount has grown by 835 officers over the past nine years from 11,506 officers in March 2015 to 12,341 officers in July this year;
• The LNP under Premier Campbell Newman added an extra 919 officers from 10,589 in April 2012 to 11,508 officers in April 2015. That’s a total of 84 more police than the current government has delivered over its time in office.
  

Former premier Campbell Newman said the leaked data was “vindication” for his government. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

“This is vindication and it defends our government’s record “ former Premier Campbell Newman said.

“The LNP should have been standing on this achievement for years.”

The one-term leader, whose leadership was defined by an era of savage cuts to the public service, accused Labor of failing to support the QPS with the resources it needs.

He said whoever is successful at the ballot box this weekend would need to work with the Commissioner Steve Gollschewski to turn the officer numbers around.

“I’m a supporter of the new Commissioner. I believe he is the man to make the necessary changes” Mr Newman said.

“He will need to be strongly supported by the Police Minister and new Premier.

“In our time, we made the funds available. We sat down with the Police Commissioner and said look you’re going to be totally supported,”

The average number of extra officers added to the QPS per year by government.

Data from leaked QPS history report broken down into increase to officer headcount by government.

The leaked police data also reveals under the leadership of Labor Premier Peter Beattie, the police headcount rose from 9,011 officers in July 2005 to 9,618 officers in July 2007, an increase of 607 extra cops in two years.

Then under Anna Bligh’s term as Premier the police headcount grew by a further 793 officer over four years, from 9,833 in June 2008 to 10,626 in March 2012.

According to the report, officer numbers have also declined over the last two years, down from 12,427 in June 2022, with 86 fewer officers on the frontline at the beginning of the 2024/25 financial year.

In response to the leaked data, Police Minister Mark Ryan claimed the government has made “the biggest investment” in police in 30 years.

“Police advise the police officer headcount is projected to be 12,453 by the end of the year,” Minister Ryan said.

“The projected headcount of recruits in training will exceed 800. In addition, police advise the combined number of recruits and police officers will exceed the government’s commitment by the end of 2025.”

If the predictions by Minister Ryan and QPS are delivered, the current Labor government would have increased the number of officers by 947 during its three-term time in office, or about 28 officers more than what the Newman Government delivered in four years.

“I will always back police to ensure they have the personnel, the laws, the equipment and the resources they need to support community safety” Mr Ryan said.

“And I want to commend police for their extraordinary efforts.”

Criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Ex-detective turned criminologist with Bond University, Dr Terry Goldsworthy said the leaked data is in line with the Federal Government's reporting which shows the number of police to population has continued to decline statewide since 2015.

“This would help explain why police internal surveys show that police feel overwhelmed, want to leave and have little faith in the current QPS executive,” Dr Goldsworthy said.

“The current government has failed to invest in policing services to ensure that the same level of service is being provided to ensure the safety of Queenslanders.

“With less operational police available and a growing population it is little wonder that Queensland had the highest crime rate in 2023 for twenty years.

Originally published as Boost to frontline lowest in decades with more cops hitting the beat under Newman era