Police shortages across NSW are worsening under the Minns Labor Government with more than a thousand extra officers leaving the job in the past year.
In a Budget Estimates hearing today it was revealed the police force is 2279 officers below its authorised strength, which is almost double the gap of 1000 officers recorded in December 2023.
Shadow Minister for Police, Paul Toole, said things are rapidly declining.
"Policing here in NSW is in dire straits, and the figures released today show there are more officers leaving the force than are being recruited, which should serve as a wake-up call to the Police Minister," Mr Toole said.
"On top of the hundreds of officers that have walked out the door, there are also 1362 on long term sick leave, which is adding to the major shortfall we are seeing.
"Minister Catley failed to negotiate a fair pay deal for police in July, leaving them in the dark about their future while morale is at an all-time low."
The NSW Police Force 2023 People Matter Employee Survey shows only 39 per cent of officers would recommend the force as a place to work.
"These are very sobering statistics, and the Minns Labor Government needs to address this situation as a matter of urgency," Mr Toole said.
"We cannot continue to spiral down this path and we need to make sure police retention is our top priority, so we are supporting those on the ground in every way possible.
"We've got communities where there are no police and communities where stations are closing. The situation is getting worse under Labor, and it's getting worse by the day."
