The Western Australian (WA) Police Union has warned the state’s police force is facing critical shortages after over 500 police resigned or retired last year.
The WA Police Union’s acting president Paul Gale, on Jan. 16, said that 465 sworn police officers resigned last year, and a further 97 retired, making it the highest number of resignations and retirements in the state police force’s 189-year history and more than doubling those leaving in 2021.
This means the state’s police force went from 7,112 to 6,893 in just one year.
“These figures are horrendous. The total number of sworn officers went backwards,” Gale said. “Over 220 in the last 12 months. I’m disappointed, but I’m not surprised.”…