Top cop ‘concerned’ by jump in police resignations

Police are resigning from the job in huge numbers, with 700 walking off the job in the last financial year, an increase of about 200 compared to the previous year.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton says it “is a concern” to Victoria Police, but it’s not a localised issue.

“Our attrition rate is higher than we’d like but that’s not unlike any other police jurisdiction in Australia and overseas,” he told Neil Mitchell.

Mr Patton says staff who stayed in the force longer than they intended to due to COVID-19 partially explains the high attrition rate.

“There’s a bit of the great resignation, I think, too,” he said.

Victoria Police is seeking to recruit 900 police this year, and 2000 over the next two years, and they’re willing to consider a broader range of people to meet that target.

“In past years we’ve pushed away young people, saying you need to get some life experience, I’m saying, ‘No, we don’t need to do that’ … we’re happy to take you if you’re 18 or 19,” Mr Patton said.

Press PLAY below to hear what police are doing differently to recruit more people

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