Well, I see that SAPOL has lowered the bath or prospective recruits, Saypole in fact, revised its recruitment standards over a period of years. They've done it to going way back into the night. These height restrictions were abolished, you may recall, to promote diversity and align with anti discrimination laws. Previously, men had to be one hundred and seventy eight meters or no meters centimeters women one hundred and sixty seven centimeters tall. There were rigid fitness requirements. They've been relaxed to focus on practical ability rather than arbitrary benchmarks, and our saypolers scrapped spelling and numerous e tests to boost recruitment. These changes reflect a broader push to modernized entry standards and attract a more diverse applicant pool. So what is the thought of the of the Police Association? Wade Burns joins us. Now, Wade, good morning to.

Well, I see that SAPOL has lowered the bath or prospective recruits, Saypole in fact, revised its recruitment standards over a period of years. They've done it to going way back into the night. These height restrictions were abolished, you may recall, to promote diversity and align with anti discrimination laws. Previously, men had to be one hundred and seventy eight meters or no meters centimeters women one hundred and sixty seven centimeters tall. There were rigid fitness requirements. They've been relaxed to focus on practical ability rather than arbitrary benchmarks, and our saypolers scrapped spelling and numerous e tests to boost recruitment. These changes reflect a broader push to modernized entry standards and attract a more diverse applicant pool. So what is the thought of the of the Police Association? Wade Burns joins us. Now, Wade, good morning to.

You, Good morning Graham. How are you?

You, Good morning Graham. How are you?

Yeah? Look well? Thanks? Were you consulted before these moves were made?

Yeah? Look well? Thanks? Were you consulted before these moves were made?

Yeah, certainly we our members have reached out to us in relation to these changes, and some of our members are certainly alarmed that there's well established links between language, literacy and numeracy skills and certainly those links to essential police officer qualities such as I guess, problem solving, decision making, critical thinking, and effective communication as well.

Yeah, certainly we our members have reached out to us in relation to these changes, and some of our members are certainly alarmed that there's well established links between language, literacy and numeracy skills and certainly those links to essential police officer qualities such as I guess, problem solving, decision making, critical thinking, and effective communication as well.

So when it comes to numeracy and literacy, you know, what are your feelings? You know, we are happy with the way they were. Are they only being done so we can boost the recruiting numbers? Well?

So when it comes to numeracy and literacy, you know, what are your feelings? You know, we are happy with the way they were. Are they only being done so we can boost the recruiting numbers? Well?

I think that's part of our concern is that obviously in the recent state budget there's an extra three hundred and twenty six sworn police officer positions that have been announced, and I think quite clearly that it's a reasonable expectation, both from our members and the essay community, that safe should be reaching those newly funded positions with absolutely zero compromises on recruiting standards.

I think that's part of our concern is that obviously in the recent state budget there's an extra three hundred and twenty six sworn police officer positions that have been announced, and I think quite clearly that it's a reasonable expectation, both from our members and the essay community, that safe should be reaching those newly funded positions with absolutely zero compromises on recruiting standards.

What feeling do you think is within the force now to those that have had to fulfill existing requirements, How do you think the average rank and file police officer would about it?

What feeling do you think is within the force now to those that have had to fulfill existing requirements, How do you think the average rank and file police officer would about it?

I think generally the sentiment is there's a need for additional police officers. That is without question, our members are working harder in tougher conditions than ever before. But certainly the feedback that's come through to us is they don't want to see a lowering of quality. It's simply that there's extra positions that need to be filled, but there needs to be a balance of quantity and quality and our members want to see competent police officers graduating working in patrol cars with them to continue to serve the South Australian community.

I think generally the sentiment is there's a need for additional police officers. That is without question, our members are working harder in tougher conditions than ever before. But certainly the feedback that's come through to us is they don't want to see a lowering of quality. It's simply that there's extra positions that need to be filled, but there needs to be a balance of quantity and quality and our members want to see competent police officers graduating working in patrol cars with them to continue to serve the South Australian community.

And how has the recent recruiting been going well?

And how has the recent recruiting been going well?

As of information yesterday, South Australia Police are one hundred and nine position short of their funded establishment numbers, so attrition is still high. There has been some catch up, but they're still operating at about one hundred and ten positions short. So our push really is to ensure that the people who are working in policing today actually stay in the job tomorrow. So looking after the existing our members and certainly ensuring that quality applicants are coming into Saypole who are willing to have longer careers in policing.

As of information yesterday, South Australia Police are one hundred and nine position short of their funded establishment numbers, so attrition is still high. There has been some catch up, but they're still operating at about one hundred and ten positions short. So our push really is to ensure that the people who are working in policing today actually stay in the job tomorrow. So looking after the existing our members and certainly ensuring that quality applicants are coming into Saypole who are willing to have longer careers in policing.

What is the average life expectancy of an office in terms of coming into the force that in their early twenties or so, what stage are they leaving the force?

What is the average life expectancy of an office in terms of coming into the force that in their early twenties or so, what stage are they leaving the force?

Yeah, certainly, Traditionally policing has been a lifetime or a career of many decades. I'm aware of people who've recently retired with nearly forty seven, forty eight years of service. We're not seeing that anymore now, though, we're seeing people leave between that sort of seven to ten year mark, and at that point they've become confident, they're moving into supervisory or leadership duties, and it's certainly really important that, Saypole places a great emphasis on looking after, retaining, developing those members so that they stay in policing longer.

Yeah, certainly, Traditionally policing has been a lifetime or a career of many decades. I'm aware of people who've recently retired with nearly forty seven, forty eight years of service. We're not seeing that anymore now, though, we're seeing people leave between that sort of seven to ten year mark, and at that point they've become confident, they're moving into supervisory or leadership duties, and it's certainly really important that, Saypole places a great emphasis on looking after, retaining, developing those members so that they stay in policing longer.

What are the principal reasons why officers are leaving earlier? Graham?

What are the principal reasons why officers are leaving earlier? Graham?

As you'd well know, policing is a tough gig. The workload has increased, the complexity of the taskings that police attend has got greater, there's fewer police doing more work, and really it is a job that can take its toll where people before we're police, and we're seeing people who've had that sort of seven to ten years of experience then looking to move on to alternative careers. But they're not age retiring, they're resigning and moving elsewhere. So it's a tough job and it's really about rewarding, recognizing, valuing, and investing in people to make sure that they are equipped both physically and psychologically to undertake a long term policing career.

As you'd well know, policing is a tough gig. The workload has increased, the complexity of the taskings that police attend has got greater, there's fewer police doing more work, and really it is a job that can take its toll where people before we're police, and we're seeing people who've had that sort of seven to ten years of experience then looking to move on to alternative careers. But they're not age retiring, they're resigning and moving elsewhere. So it's a tough job and it's really about rewarding, recognizing, valuing, and investing in people to make sure that they are equipped both physically and psychologically to undertake a long term policing career.

Wade Burns, thanks for your time, great to chat. Thanks Greame, President of the Police Association of how the Straight of Wade Burns

Wade Burns, thanks for your time, great to chat. Thanks Greame, President of the Police Association of how the Straight of Wade Burns