Comms Centres boost staff numbers

Staff numbers have been increased in the three Communications Centres and new initiatives put in place to improve service...



As at 30 June 2005, and across all three centres (Northern, Southern and Central), full time equivalent staff numbers have increased to 370, up from 346 on 11 May 2005, and up from 338 at the end of October 2004.

This includes 28 communicators currently in training – 14 in Northern Comms; six in Central Comms and eight in Southern Comms. Once qualified, these staff will commence work in the next two-to-six weeks.

Communications Centre National Manager, Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald, says the additional staffing and training are part of a programme designed to improve police service response from the Communications Centres.

"These actions are an important step toward addressing the recommendations contained in the Independent Review Panel (IRP) report into Communications Centres, released in May this year," says Steve.

"Every day, all day, we're conscious that we're in an environment of critical emergencies, often involving life and death. We're doing everything we can to mitigate the risks associated with this.

"Sure but steady progress is being made toward implementing the recommendations from the Independent Review and our own knowledge of what we need to do to improve," says Steve.

"It's my role to help ensure police provide the best possible service to each other and to the public while contributing to the overall police goals of crime and crash reduction."