WA Police Union warns of retention crisis as generation of ‘Americas Cup’ officers are on verge of retirement

WA’s police force could be set for a staffing crisis in the next few years if its poor retention rate is not improved, the industry’s union has warned. WA Police Union president Dave Flaherty raised the alarm on Thursday morning saying a large cohort who were recruited in the mid-1980s were now approaching retirement age. Mr Flaherty referred to a number of officers who were recruited for the 1985 Americas Cup, he said now 40 years on many are set to retire in the next five years. “We’ve raised this for some time, I’ve raised this with the Commissioner for some time, he’s never denied it’s coming, I think he knows it’s coming, it’s of concern to him I would hope,” he said. “I hope he’s raising the same issue with the Minister and with Government because we need to do something about it. “We need to do something about it now and not wait until we’re in crisis.” According to documents tabled in Parliament this week, WA Police staff numbers rose but still fell short of the Budget targets for the 2024-25 financial year. While Budget estimate figures show the police force was expected to reach 9936 officers across metropolitan, regional and specialist services, they only reached 9643 — an increase of 344 in 12 months. “What I can say is if we don’t focus on retention and recruitment like we are today and like we have been now for a couple of years then that is a risk for all of us, for all of us across the country,” he said. “I’m comfortable that we’re focusing on those things, and I hope to prevent the numbers from dipping as a result of the America’s Cup cohort.” Mr Flaherty also warned some tasks assigned to officers such as court security or covering mental health cases were taking them off the streets. He linked the increasing hospital ambulance ramping figures to issues facing police. “Some of the other issues that have always been an issue for us, dealing with mental health, over 2600 hours ramped at a hospital, we’re hearing what’s going on with the ambulances, the police cars are no different,” Mr Flaherty said. “That’s 5200 hours of policing time looking after mental health issues, now that’s a health problem, it’s not a policing problem and police shouldn’t be involved in that sort of business because while they are doing that, they’re not policing.” Mr Blanch pointed to a need for a “good mix” in demographics in the police force. “Let’s let the numbers speak for themselves, crime is down, we’re out on the road, we’re doing an exceptional job in solving crime”. “I appreciate my officers for both their experience, wisdom, knowledge, time and service, but also their youthful exuberance,” he said. Premier Roger Cook said he was aware a cohort of senior police officers would be reaching their retirement soon, and emphasised the need to hire more senior officers from other jurisdictions. “Traditionally people join the police force and would stay in the police force for decades, nowadays younger people are looking for a greater variety in their career progression,” he said. “They might move in and out of the police force, they might take up other opportunities in the economy, we have to cognisant of that. “That’s the reason why we need to continue to train and recruit and attract people to the force.”