MORE police officers are in the pipeline for the region, with 143 new ready for duty this week.
Fourteen of those new officers will start work in the Ipswich region, including one extra officer at Yamanto and another at Beaudesert.
A record-breaking number of recruits has recently undergone training at Queensland Police Academies and pushed the number of police in training to 681 – the highest level on record.
“The pipeline of registered recruit applicants with Queensland Police has also grown to almost 2,000 with strong interest from across Queensland, interstate and overseas jurisdictions,” a police spokesman said.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said a huge police service recruitment campaign had proved a success.
“Despite an intensely competitive labour market, Queensland Police is leading the way with significant interest in people applying to join the service,” he said.
Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Kelly said he had been “blown away” with the strong interest in people wanting to service.
“We are committed to getting the right people who represent our values as an organisation and those that are committed to keeping Queensland safe,” Assistant Commissioner Kelly said.
“It’s why we always ensure our training is constantly reviewed.
“For example, we have reviewed and expanded our domestic and family violence training programs.
“A career in policing is a career like no other.
“The sheer variety of roles, skills, situations, and moments in a vast state like ours makes it such a uniquely challenging and rewarding career for everyone to consider.”
The State Government announced recruitment incentives like free accommodation for recruits living at police academies and $20,000 towards the relocation costs of interstate and overseas applicants.
The government is investing $87.5 million over five years to support the largest ever police recruitment drive.
