HTTP/1.1 200 OKServer: nginxContent-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8X-Powered-By: WordPress VIP Host-Header: a9130478a60e5f9135f765b23f26593bX-Content-Type-Options: nosniffX-XSS-Protection: 1x-rq: syd3 123 243 443Cache-Control: must-revalidate, max-age=293Expires: Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:05:51 GMTDate: Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:00:58 GMTTransfer-Encoding:  chunkedConnection: keep-aliveConnection: Transfer-EncodingSet-Cookie: nk=d4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26d; expires=Tue, 10-Feb-2026 15:00:58 GMT; domain=.themercury.com.au; secure; SameSite=NoneStrict-Transport-Security: max-age=31536000 ; includeSubDomainsContent-Security-Policy-Report-Only: frame-ancestors 'self'; report-uri https://www.themercury.com.au/csp-reportsContent-Security-Policy: block-all-mixed-content; style-src https: 'unsafe-inline'; script-src https: blob: 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval'; img-src https: data:; frame-src https:;BlaizeHappened: trueX-ARRRG5: /blaize/decision-engine?path=https%3a%2f%2fwww.themercury.com.au%2fweb-stories%2ffree%2fthe-mercury-hobart%2fwhy-tasmanian-police-are-at-breaking-point%3fnk%3dd4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26d-1711775422&blaizehost=v4-news-au-themercury.cdn.zephr.com&content_id=&session=d4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26dX-ARRRG4: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/X-PathQS: TRUEVary: User-Agent
Tasmania Police at breaking point
WORDS: SAM FLANAGANPRODUCER: ANTHONY LUCAS
 insiders say the force is at breaking point, with claims the state’s drug squads are being disbanded, staff morale is at an all time low and officers are leaving the force in droves.
Tasmania Police
HERE'S WHY
HERE'S WHY
After speaking with a number of officers, The Mercury can reveal our state’s police are becoming increasingly frustrated with a badge they once wore proudly.
Whistleblowers inside the force are concerned about the state’s drug squads, claiming many units have been disbanded to fill gaps in other policing areas.
Tasmania Police has a drug investigation services team in each of its three districts; Western, Northern and Southern.
Drug dealer’s paradise
Sources say the Western drug squad is being disbanded for at least the next three months to help out at the Devonport Criminal Investigation Branch.
Sources said most of the Southern drug squad has been removed for three months to fill staff shortages at 24/7 stations. Police Commissioner Darren Hine committed to minimum safe staffing levels at all 24/7 stations in 2020.
But Assistant Commissioner Operations Jonathan Higgins said drug squads had not been broken up.
“Tasmania Police from time to time reassign resources to respond to priority areas which includes supporting Safe Staffing on 24/7 stations which is an agreed priority” he said.
Tasmania recorded 36 road fatalities at the end of July, beating the entire death total of 2021 in nearly half the time.
The whistleblower said the restructure could mean less police on the streets enforcing road safety measures.
Fatalities skyrocket amid restructure
Sources say staff retention is at a low, claiming officers are walking out the door in large numbers.
Staff leaving in droves as morale plummets
 Assistant Commissioner Operations Jonathan Higgins however denied it was an issue.
“
Assistant Commissioner Operations Jonathan Higgins.
We have recently worked closely with the Police Association of Tasmania on several important policies such as fatigue management and safe staffing levels, to further enhance the health, safety, and wellbeing of police officers
Police Association of Tasmania president Colin Riley acknowledged all of the issues were a major concern for the officers he represents and is hopeful things will change.
Union hoping for change 
Swipe up to read more.
																																								

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/web-stories/free/the-mercury-hobart/why-tasmanian-police-are-at-breaking-point