The Minns Labor Government will deliver police station upgrades and enhancements to investigative capabilities as part of a broader police package in the 2024-25 NSW State Budget.
These targeted investments will improve the capabilities of both general duties and specialist police, giving officers additional, modern resources to help keep communities safe.
$22.9 million will fund major upgrades to Waverley and Rose Bay Police Stations:
- $18.2 million will modernise facilities in Waverley Police Station, expanding office space and upgrading essential areas like equipment rooms and custody facilities which haven't been updated since the station was built more than 50 years ago.
- $4.7 million will help to update Rose Bay Police Station, which is a heritage block dating back to 1850. This funding will address significant issues including leaks and mould and ensure disability access. It will be the first significant upgrade since the 1980s.
$14.2 million over four years will go to the Forensic Evidence and Technical Services Command, specifically within its High-Tech Crime Branch.
Requests for assistance to the High-Tech Crime Branch have doubled over the past five years. This funding enhancement will provide more opportunities to use modern, state-of-the-art technology to investigate crimes. This includes:
- Telecommunication interception
- Digital forensics: assists in accessing data from devices for serious investigations such as domestic violence, child abuse, homicide, organised crime and terrorism.
- Forensic Consumables: uses biological evidence (DNA) to identify offenders or link an offender to a crime. This is used across all types of crime but particularly in sexual assault investigations.
- Forensic Investigate Genetic Genealogy: uses DNA to identify suspects and missing persons.
This investment represents the Government's ongoing commitment to building a better NSW and backing our frontline services, including our dedicated, world-class police force.
Today's announcement follows historic recruitment measures to further boost police recruitment and address the critical shortfall of police officers. These include:
- Paid study: recruits are paid approximately $30,984 to study at the Goulburn Police Academy.
- Experienced Officer Recruitment Scheme: The Professional Mobility program incentivises officers from other Australian and New Zealand jurisdictions to join the NSWPF while keeping their equivalent rank (up to senior constable level six).
- Regional Recruitment Scheme: The You Should Be a Cop in Your Hometown program that will ensure people from regional NSW serve in, or near their hometown after they graduate from the Goulburn Police Academy.
Since we announced paid study for recruits, the NSWPF has received 1424 applications to join, that's more than a 40 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The 2024-25 Budget takes the next steps to help address longstanding, time-critical issues that were neglected by the previous Liberal Government despite warnings of an imminent police shortage.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government's long-term plan to build better, safer communities for NSW. A plan to build stronger essential services for everyone across the state.
A plan to build a better NSW.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:
"NSW Police officers go above and beyond, risking their lives to keep our community safe.
"The measures announced today will boost the capability of our police to investigate and solve crime.
"These investments show this Government is backing the NSW Police Force and the people of this state.
"Today's announcement complements the significant recruitment initiatives we've already announced, including paid study. That's already seen applications to join the NSW Police Force increase by more than 40 percent.
"We have more than 1,500 vacancies to fill and mark my words, I've made it my personal mission, alongside Commissioner Webb, to fill them."
