The Department of Police and Emergency Management is progressing its voluntary redundancy scheme and organisational restructure.

The Department is making an offer of separation through redundancy to a number of people who expressed interest in the program.

Expressions of interest in voluntary redundancy were sought from police officers and State Service employees in July as part of a strategy to meet a significant budget reduction.

Due to slower-than-expected natural attrition and other cost pressures, the Department has brought forward its aim of a workforce of 1120 police officers. The current number of police is 1178, with 25 positions previously identified for abolition.

If the target of 1120 sworn officers is achieved, allocations across the Districts would be as follows:

• Southern: 450 (reduction of 8 positions) (including the merged Eastern District, to take effect from September 1)
• Northern: 243 (reduction of 8 positions)
• Western: 225 (reduction of 10)
• Operations Support: 145 (reduction of 5)

Other support commands remain substantially the same but with an overall reduction of two.

Western District has the highest ratio of police to population in the State, at 1:484 compared to the State average of 1:541.

The exact number of final redundancies can’t be accurately predicted until final offers are accepted. The Police Association of Tasmania and CPSU have been contacted about the latest development.

Commanders and Directors have been consulted and provided input regarding state service redundancies to determine how service delivery would be maintained or restructured.

Once offers have been accepted and the redundancy position becomes clearer, the Department will work in consultation with District Commanders to identify which police positions require back-filling to help protect frontline service delivery.

“It’s important to realise that all efforts will be made to protect frontline service delivery,” said the Commissioner of Police, Darren Hine. “Much of the work to be done at this stage now centres around minimising the impact on frontline numbers.

“In addition, work is continuing on a review of the Tasmania Police organisational structure.  While the impetus for this review is budgetary constraint, it’s designed to develop a structural blueprint for the future that is scalable, flexible and sufficiently dynamic to meet our long-term strategic vision.

“This work will help us to meet future needs and provide stability and certainty for employees and the community.”

Work is progressing on the initial phase, merging the Southern and Eastern District from September 1 to rationalise management and administrative positions.

Stage 2 will look at divisional boundaries, CIBs and traffic and general policing, while Stage 3 will look at support services and support districts.

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