The NSW Government will deliver a record $3.9 billion Budget for the NSW Police Force in 2018-19, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced today.
Ms Berejiklian said the record investment will boost NSW Police Force’s strong record of fighting crime and keeping communities safe. The funding will be handed down in the June 19 State Budget.
“The NSW Police Force plays an integral role in keeping communities safe and this record investment will enable its officers to put even more criminals behind bars,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We are proud to make this record investment but our work doesn’t stop here – we will continue to support our police with funding and the tools they need so they can keep our communities safe.
“The Government’s strong economic management has allowed us to make these record investments.”
The most recent quarterly crime statistics show 16 of the 17 major crime categories were stable or falling in the 24 months to December 2017.
100 new Police officers, funded as part of this year’s record State Budget, will be deployed later this year.
In addition to these new officers, the Government is working with NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and other key stakeholders to determine how many more officers are needed, and where they will need to be deployed.
The Budget will dedicate $118.5 million to build six new police stations, including at Parramatta, Hurstville and Port Macquarie, and redevelop eight more police stations, including at Adelong, Bonalbo and Collarenebri.
Minister for Police Troy Grant said the NSW Police Force has undergone the biggest organisational transformation in 20 years and this Budget will ensure Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has the flexibility and resources required to fight crime.
“After a horror start to the year on NSW roads, an additional $83 million has been allocated for policing on country roads, including doubling the mobile drug testing program with 100,000 additional tests per year,” Mr Grant said.
“We will continue to provide the resources our men and women in blue need to do the amazing work they’re renowned for.”
The Government will also invest $26 million over four years to enhance the post-sentence detention and supervision of offenders in custody or on parole who pose an unacceptably high-risk of committing a serious terrorism crime at the end of their sentence.
There will also be a $12 million investment in facial matching services in NSW under the National Facial Biometric Matching Capability.
