Just two out of 97 newly-graduated police officers have been posted in Logan despite the city’s high crime rates.
But a former police officer says there’s more at play than just crime statistics, including seasonal change.
Queensland Retired Police Association Beenleigh branch president Colin Thorne said very few communities in Queensland would “get a vast number of new recruits”.
“I don’t know their rating system now, but years ago it was based on crime rate and population,” Mr Thorne said.
“And if that’s still the case, Logan possibly should get more. But it’s a complicated issue.”
Almost 100 new Queensland Police Service recruits will be dished out across the state.
While city’s like Cairns will get seven new officers, Gold Coast 13 and Brisbane more than 20, Logan will only get two.
“We’re moving into the Easter period, therefore you’re going to get an influx of population moving into the Gold Coast and Cairns,” Mr Thorne said.
“There’s a whole myriad of things that need to be considered.”
One recruit will head to Browns Plains Station, and the other to Logan Central Station.
Last month Logan received six of 88 new recruits.
And last October, Logan received eight of 89 new recruits.
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) has introduced a series of incentives in an effort to attract new police officers, which began with a $90 million investment in 2023.
Recruits are now eligible to receive $20,000 to pay towards their HECS debt for relevant tertiary study and also receive a $183 fortnightly cost-of-living allowance on top of their training salary.
Application fees have been waived – saving applicants almost $1000 – and those living on-site while at the academy get free accommodation.
Recruitment became so dire in 2023 that QPS offered $20,000 relocation bonuses to experienced NSW officers willing to move.
Now there are more than 600 recruits in training, which premier Steven Miles said makes 2024 “one of the biggest years yet”.
In early 2023 there were only 350.
