A Budget Estimates held last week has revealed that Police shortages across NSW are worsening with more than a thousand extra officers leaving the job in the past year.
According to Shadow Police Minister Paul O’Toole, the Estimates have shown Police officer numbers have fallen short by almost 2300 below its authorised strength which is more than double the gap of 1000 recorded in December last year.
Mr O’Toole added that on top of the hundreds of officers walking out, 1362 are on long term sick leave, adding to the strain and the major shortfall that is being experienced, with Mr O’Toole going on to say that NSW Police Minister Yasmin Cately failed to negotiate a fair pay deal for police in July, with an Police Employee survey showing only 39% of officers would recommend the force as a place to work.
Mr O’Toole says these are sobering statistics that the Minns Labor Government can no longer ignore and must address as a matter of urgeny.
