THE NSW Police Force (NSWPF) has proudly welcomed 298 new Probationary Constables, marking a historic moment as the largest class to graduate in a decade. 

“It was a pleasure to meet with
the 7 new Probationary Constables that have been allocated to Nepean Police Area Command,” said
Member for Penrith, Karen McKeown OAM.  

“This is an important step in the Minns Labor Government’s long-term plan to rebuild our essential services, including addressing the recruitment and retention crisis of frontline workers. 

“They will undertake general duties police work and gain valuable experience working alongside their seasoned colleagues. The graduation of this record-breaking class not only strengthens the NSWPF but also ensures the safety and security of communities across New South Wales. 

“This is the third class to benefit from the NSW Government’s paid study allowance during their training at the Academy. 

“Our Government’s work to support NSW Police officers and address the chronic shortage of police officers presided over by the former Liberal National Government has also included: 

• abolishing the wages cap and reaching a four-year pay agreement, which includes highly competitive salaries; 

• setting up a historic new scheme to pay students to study to become an officer, which has already seen applications surge by 50 per cent over the previous year; and 

• two recently announced programs specifically aimed at attracting both experienced officers and regional recruits. 

Mrs Mckeown said the Minns Labor Government was elected with a mandate to rebuild public services and reinvest in our front-line workforce including our police and ensure we provide support when people in NSW need it most. 

“The fact that this is the largest class in a decade shows that the programs we have implemented are working It’s part of our plan to build a better NSW and we still have more work to do,” Mrs McKeown said: “I was thrilled to personally welcome our 7 new recruits to the area. I congratulate them all for choosing Nepean as their preferred place to serve. Today marks the start of what I trust will be an exciting and rewarding career after months of study and training.”