POLICE NUMBERS

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:03): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning, representing the Minister for Police, a question regarding police numbers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: The government's policy is to have 4,400 police officers on the beat by 2010, or perhaps it is a commitment for 4,421, according to the new minister's media release of 13 August this year. In the same release the minister said, 'We are well on track to provide more than 700 extra police, above attrition, in our two terms of government', relying on a baseline figure of 3,701 full-time equivalent officers when the Rann government was elected in March 2002.

Government media releases dated 21 July, 13 August and 24 September cover topics such as the number of graduates from the academy; how bad the numbers used to be under the previous government; 'the highest numbers SA has ever seen'; and the 4,400 target for 2010. However, in each release there is no mention of the 30 June 2008 full-time equivalent figures.

It is claimed that, as at 30 June 2008, SAPOL had 4,128 full-time equivalent police officers. This would be a fall from the 4,149 officers at 30 June 2007 and the first drop in total full-time equivalent police numbers since the massive drop between 2003-04 and 2004-05. My questions to the minister therefore are:

1. Exactly how many full-time equivalent police were on record as at 30 June 2008?

2. If there has been a drop in total numbers, what has been the reason for that drop?

3. What are the predicted recruiting and attrition rates through to 2010?

4. What have been the recruiting and attrition rates per annum over the life of this government?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his questions in relation to police numbers in this state. I will refer those questions to the Minister for Police in another place and bring back a response for him.