DESCRIBING Wagga as the most understaffed and overworked police command in the state, an association president has demanded an immediate commitment from the state government to increase officers or they'll take industrial action.
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The NSW Police Association president Scott Weber and southern region executive member Mick Connor met with state member for Wagga Daryl Maguire this morning to reinstate negotiations with the state government to forge a First Response Agreement with the NSW Police Force (NSWPF).
"Wagga is the worst of the state in regards to staffing numbers, closely followed by Shoalhaven," Mr Weber said.
"These two commands need a massive injection of staff to deal with crime.
"Police are doing a great job here but they're just trying to keep their head above water.
"We're already seeing cracks starting to appear.
"It's humanly impossible to deal with issues in Wagga with the amount of staff present."
The association has attempted to negotiate increased numbers for three years.
"We are fed up and our members have had enough with the ongoing delays and constant stalling in negotiations," Mr Weber said.
"Wagga Local Area Command (LAC) statistics from the NSWPF demonstrate the command is one of the busiest in the state, but it operates well below the strength needed to provide a timely response to the community."
The Wagga branch is calling for four additional sergeants and 28 additional constables across the LAC to assist with major issues, including illicit drugs.
Mr Weber questioned why the prevalence of drugs in the region didn't warrant a full-time drug investigation unit.
"There is a heightened terrorist threat to the local community with critical infrastructure and the RAAF and army bases located at Wagga, and with the current staffing levels local police may not be able to respond appropriately," Mr Weber said.
"The increased work load and risk to officers who are left to work with limited back-up or supervision cannot be underestimated. "Numerous officers are on sick leave or restricted duties due to work place injuries, both physical and psychological.
Mr Weber couldn't disclose how many staff were currently on leave or reports of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), despite conceding the issue wouldn't go away without an immediate commitment.
"There's a small amount on leave with the pressures of the job on a normal, given day astronomical, but now (it's) pushing police to the absolute breaking point," he said.
"We have an authorised strength but no workload ratio and that's another issue the police association will be bringing up; that police go where they're actually needed, not on a political whim."
Mr Weber vowed industrial action would take place if no commitment had been made in a couple of weeks.
Wagga LAC's 32 proposed additional police:
3 additional general duties sergeants
1 additional detectice sergeant (drug unit)
20 additional constables (general duties)
6 additional detectives
2 constables in Criminal Investigation
PULLING officers from Wagga's outlying police stations to counter what's described as the state's most understaffed command is creating a vicious cycle, according to a union leader.
The NSW Police Association has threatened the state government with industrial action if it fails to provide Wagga with 32 additional police officers under a First Response Agreement with the NSW Police Force.
"It gets fairly draining, you come to work and you're on minimal staffing and you're go, go, go all the time," Southern region executive member of NSW Police Association Mick Connor said.
"It's the worst in the state as far as workload per head of officer and that's the issue.
"We're operating on minimal strength and still getting the job done.
"The cops here do a fantastic job and we've had decreases in crime categories right across the board."
Mr Connor explained the proposed additional staff would assist in dealing with preventable, recurring issues like stemming the prevalence of drugs, to alleviate pressure on burnt-out officers.
"There are instances of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) injuries in Wagga, as there is right across the state," he said.
"It's a significant amount, not only on sick leave, but who are on restricted duties."
Mr Connor was optimistic after meeting with state member Daryl Maguire yesterday morning, which follows three years of attempts to negotiate a response, to which they were refused due to insufficient numbers.
"The fact of the matter is you wear out, you need a break and that places extra strain on people left back in the workplace so that's a vicious cycle," he said.
"Police here are really, really fed up being ignored.
"If we're under strength in Wagga, we need to pull people from everywhere and the first people who get it in the neck are the outstations ... they deserve their police working in their towns."
Another cause of concern was the heightened terrorist threat in Wagga because of the defence and other infrastructure services.
"There's no timeframe, however, it's coming very soon," Mr Connor said of possible industrial action.
"The minister knows and the premier knows that we are the highest workload per officer in the state.
"Its an easy fix: give us the numbers."
WAGGA Local Area Command (LAC) Superintendent Bob Noble has conceded the proliferation of drugs in the area should warrant a specialist unit, during talks of industrial action over staffing issues.
"They're among the hardest working of any business within the state and I believe there's evidence to support that," Superintendent Noble said of the Wagga LAC officers.
"The policing environment in Wagga is very similar to a metropolitan command where police are doing 12-hour shifts around the clock."
The sentiment follows the NSW Police Association yesterday threatening the state government with industrial action if they failed to provide a proposed 32 additional officers to Wagga.
The association called for an immediate commitment to renegotiate a new First Response Agreement that had been denied for three years.
Superintendent Noble believed enhanced police presence would allow the investigation of sophisticated drug networks, rather than just targeting street-end crime.
He said Wagga had rudimentary drug investigation resources, but police officer's knowledge and expertise compensated.
"The prevalence of cheap and very destructive drugs like ice is increasing," he said.
"The frequency and severity of assaults anecdotally suggests there's a lot more, whether it's a driver of a substance or a result of it."
Superintendent Noble explained Wagga LAC had 137 officers at authorised strength, and additional highway patrol unit, sex abuse squad and unsworn administration staff to take the count to about 200.
"Things have improved a bit, but we'll take anything," he said.
"They're not whingeing about it.
"Any respite should it come would be welcomed with open arms."
Superintendent Noble maintained officers' dedication and commitment was never undermined, despite the association claiming Wagga to be the most understaffed command in the state.
STATE member for Wagga Daryl Maguire has vowed to continue working alongside the NSW Police Association to deliver increased police numbers at the state's most under-staffed command.
Mr Maguire met with association president Scott Weber and southern region executive member Mick Connor this morning.
They discussed negotiations to forge a First Response Agreement with the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) that would potentially see an additional 32 officers posted to the Wagga Local Area Command.
"I have a very strong relationship with the police association and together we've fought hard on a lot of issues, including acquiring a new police station," Mr Maguire said.
"We had a great discussion (yesterday).
"The association put a suggested number they'd like to see."
Mr Maguire took the concerns to Police and Emergency Service Minister Stuart Ayres to attempt to reach an agreement before the union takes industrial action.
"I was more than happy to take that information to the minister," he said.
"I take (their concerns) very seriously.
"Police play a very important role in Wagga to support our community.
"The ultimate decision (of where officers are placed) is with the commissioner and deputy commissioner, but I'm sure they enjoy the encouragement from parliament.
"We're always happy to have more police."
Mr Maguire listed a crash investigation unit as a priority of the negotiations.
"It's at the forefront of my mind," Mr Maguire said.
"I understand it will relieve pressure of some other officers."
The coalition government has increased Wagga LAC authorised strength by 12 per cent since coming to power.
"In the same period, Wagga LAC has also received 38 new probationary constables," Mr Ayres said.
"The operational strength of Wagga LAC is 96 per cent, which is above the state average.
"I will continue to work closely with the Daryl Maguire and NSW Police Force to ensure Wagga Wagga has appropriate policing resources."