Media Release
For Immediate Release
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Police Engagement Survey Shows 'Good Will' At Risk
The Police staff engagement survey shows staff good will is at risk, and this threatens Police's ability to function as
an effective organisation, Police Association President Greg O'Connor said today.
"Police effectiveness depends enormously on the good will of staff - willingness to go the extra mile, to work the extra
hours, to come in on days off or after hours, having just worked a long shift, to cover for colleagues," Mr O'Connor
said.
"This survey basically shows police don't feel their employer is returning that good will. They feel over-worked,
under-resourced, and don't have a great deal of trust in the organisation to treat them fairly.
"Police has said it will be implementing measures to address the problems identified. If they are to be effective, those
measures must include decision-making at all levels of Police showing the good will and fairness that staff obviously
feel is lacking. That means in shift rostering decisions; HR decisions; resourcing decisions; and decisions as to where
to allocate new staff to best support their overworked colleagues.
"The first step in dealing with a problem is recognising it. That's the big positive here.
"It's no coincidence the best survey results came out of the Communications Centres, where a huge amount of resource and
attention was invested a few years ago after they reached crisis point. Let's get the investment and attention into the
other areas of Police, like the CIB and General Duties Branch, before they reach a crisis point that would put public
safety at risk," Mr O'Connor said.
ENDS