Page 1677 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 13 May 2015
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ACT Policing. I believe that these are moderate savings that equate to around $1.5 million of new savings each year. The savings to date have been found, and the Chief Police Officer is currently working through $1.56 million in 2015-16 and $1.606 million for the 2016-17 year.
ACT Policing’s operating budget remains above $150 million annually. The most recent ROGS, in January of this year, indicated that ACT Policing has consistently had the highest percentage of non-operational staff of any jurisdiction, at 12.9 per cent, compared to the national average of 9.4 per cent. This has allowed ACT Policing to realise their savings for 2013-14 and 2014-15 by targeted non-operational functions.
ACT Policing is not unique in having to ensure that it focuses its resources on front-line policing. ROGS shows that police in the majority of other jurisdictions have also worked to considerably reduce the size of their non-operational staff as a percentage of total numbers over the past seven years to maintain front-line services.
I am assured by the CPO, the Chief Police Officer, that he is able, again, to meet these savings required. I have asked the Chief Police Office to give consideration to ACT Policing’s operating model and priorities to achieve the efficiencies and to meet the savings required in the outyears. The Chief Police Officer and I can assure the community that these savings will not see a negative impact on front-line policing.
In discussing police resourcing, it is important to note that the 2014-15 police purchase agreement provides for a notional full-time equivalent count of 932. This number will remain the same for the 2015-16 purchase agreement. While its actual full-time equivalent numbers will change, ACT Policing has historically operated above the notional full-time equivalent number in the purchase agreement. The actual full-time equivalent for ACT Policing at the end of March of this year was 968. This is 36 above the figure in our purchasing agreement.
ACT Policing has consistently demonstrated its capacity to surge and manage a range of situations and operational activities within its resourcing levels. This includes responding to major crimes, undertaking targeted traffic operations during peak periods, and creating task forces to deal with more specific issues—such as Taskforce Nemesis, responding to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Our ACT police do a fantastic job. As I have made my way around the stations here in Canberra, I have had the opportunity to thank individuals for their hard work, dedication and commitment to the community. I speak for all in this place, I am sure, when I voice my appreciation of the men and women in the ACT police force.
These general savings are not new. There are no surprises being experienced by ACT Policing. I expect the Chief Police Officer to continue to manage ACT Policing resources in response to operational needs and within the scope of the purchase agreement. I am meeting with the Australian Federal Police Association tomorrow, so it is a timely meeting, and I look forward to continuing discussions around supporting our police force.
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