| New South Wales Police Force | |||||
| New South Wales Police Force Crest | |||||
| New South Wales Police Force Flag | |||||
| Motto | Culpam Poena Premit Comes | ||||
| Punishment Follows Closely On Guilt[1] | |||||
| Agency overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formed | 1862 | ||||
| Employees | 18,500 | ||||
| Annual budget | A$2.62 billion [2] | ||||
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency | ||||
| Jurisdictional structure | |||||
| Operations jurisdiction* | State of New South Wales, Australia | ||||
| General nature | |||||
| Operational structure | |||||
| Headquarters | Parramatta, New South Wales | ||||
| Officers | 15,915 [3] | ||||
| Minister responsible | Mike Gallacher, NSW Minister for Police | ||||
| Agency executive | Andrew Scipione APM, Commissioner | ||||
| Units |
12
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| Facilities | |||||
| Stations | 500+ | ||||
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| Website | |||||
| www.police.nsw.gov.au | |||||
| Footnotes | |||||
| * Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction. | |||||
The New South Wales Police Force (NSW Police Force; previously New South Wales Police Service & New South Wales Police) is the primary law enforcement agency in the State of New South Wales, Australia. It is an agency of the Government of New South Wales within the New South Wales Ministry for Police. Divided into eighty Local Area Commands (LAC),[2] the NSW Police Force consists of over five hundred local police stations and covers an area of 801,600 square kilometres whilst serving the state's population of seven million people.[3]
Under the Police Regulation Act (1862), the organisation of the New South Wales Police Force was formally established in 1862 with the unification of all existing independent police units within New South Wales. The authority and responsibility of the entire police force was given to the Inspector General of Police.[4] Presently, the Commissioner of Police controls the police force.
The current Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force is Andrew Scipione, APM, who replaced Ken Moroney AO APM, on 31 August 2007, with Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens APM, Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas APM and Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn APM. The State Government Cabinet Minister responsible for the New South Wales Police Force portfolio is The Honourable Mike Gallacher, MLC. As of 2011, the New South Wales Police Force consists of approximately 15,915 officers.[2]
Contents |
The motto of the New South Wales Police Force is Culpam Poena Premit Comes. When translated from Latin to the English language, it means "Punishment Follows Closely Upon Crime". The insignia of the NSW Police Force also depicts this sentiment. Its coat of arms features the state badge of New South Wales, a soaring Australian Wedge Tail eagle carrying a scroll with the word Nemesis, a wreath and the St Edwards Crown, crown of the Queen of Australia, representing Her Majesty's Government.[5] The insignia was first used in 1959 at the South Pacific Police Commissioners Conference in the table placenames of each of the attending commissioners. It was designed for this purpose by then Detective-Sergeant Norm Merchant and subsequently adopted as the official insignia.
The overall mission of the New South Wales Police Force is to protect the community and property of the state of New South Wales. Services provided by the New South Wales Police Force include:[3]
Further policing duties performed are traffic control, intelligence analysis and anti-terrorist negotiation.
Like all other States of Australia, municipalities and shires in New South Wales have no or very limited law enforcement responsibilities.
The New South Wales Police Force has existed in various forms since the foundation of the colony of New South Wales at Sydney in 1788. In order to protect the infant town against thieves and petty criminals after dark, Governor Arthur Phillip authorised the formation of a nightwatch in August 1789, consisting of eight of the best-behaved convicts.[6] After his appointment as the new governor of New South Wales, Governor Lachlan Macquarie restructured the police force in January 1811, setting up a basic system of ranks and control and recruiting free men into the force instead of convicts. Police units were under the rule of the district magistrates.
Responding to the various forms of crime, a number of independent specialised units were set up. The earliest of these units formed was the Mounted Police, established in 1825 to keep the settlers safe and guard road transportation. In 2009, it had 34 horses and was claimed to be the oldest mounted police unit in the world.[7]
Other specialist groups formed during this time were the Water Police (formed in 1832), the Border Police (formed in 1839) and the Native Police (formed in 1848).[6]
As the colony expanded, a more sophisticated form of crime management was called for, which involved unifying all the police units into a single cohesive police force with the centralisation of authority. After a failed attempt made by Act No. 38 of 1850, unified control of the police eventuated in 1862 when the Police Regulation Act (1862) was passed, establishing the New South Wales Police Force. The first Inspector General of Police, John McLerie, was appointed to assume overall authority and responsibility. The Police Regulation (Amendment) Act, passed in 1935, changed the official title to Commissioner of Police, with its role clearly defined. The position of Deputy Commissioner was also created.[8]
By 1872, 70 police stations existed throughout the colony in various sub-districts with a total of 803 police officers. In 1915, the first female police officers were appointed. The number of members of the force increased to 5717 in 1961, the following year being its centenary. In November 2008, the total strength of the force was 15,354.[9]
After the formation of the New South Wales Police Force in 1862, most crimes were conducted by bushrangers, particularly during the Victorian gold rush years. Constable Byrne almost single-handedly fought off the Ben Hall gang when they attacked a gold escort at Major's Creek on 13 March 1865. Constable O'Grady was taken ill with cholera when, on 9 April 1866, he left his sick-bed to confront the Clarke gang, who were renowned as being the "bloodiest bushrangers" of the Colony of New South Wales and of Australia. Constable Walker was one of the earliest Australian-born mounted troopers to gain fame. He brought Captain Thunderbolt's enduring "bushranging" career to an end by shooting him near Uralla in New England, New South Wales.
Constable Ernest Charles Day (later the Inspector General of Police) showed courage under fire when he shot and captured bushranger Hobson. Hobson was later hanged. Day later investigated a string of murders involving a hawker, Tommy Moore, by tracing his activities to South Australia and solved one of Australia's earliest serial-killer cases.[10]
NSW Police officers have been involved in many notable events in NSW history, including APEC Australia 2007, the 1997 Thredbo landslide, Waterfall train disaster, Grafton bus crash, 1989 Newcastle earthquake, Sydney Hilton bombing, the arrest of serial killer Ivan Milat, the 2004 Redfern riots, the 2005 Macquarie Fields riots and the 2005 Cronulla riots. They were responsible for the security of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and World Youth Day 2008.
In 1990, the Police Service Act was introduced to replace the Police Regulation Act. The New South Wales Police Force was consequently renamed to the New South Wales Police Service, which reflected "community-based policing at the time" of the Greiner Government[11] and the public's responsilibity in crime control, aided by the police.[12] In accordance with the Police Service Amendment (NSW Police) Bill in 2002, the New South Wales Police Service was then renamed again to simply New South Wales Police.[13] The then Minister for Police, Michael Costa, explains:[14]
'NSW Police' is the name on which everybody signed off and it is the name with which we were to come to the Parliament... I do not believe we need the word 'service' in the name of the police force. I do not accept the argument that we need the word 'service' in a community-based policing approach.
In 2006, the Police Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill resulted in a name change for the third time, renaming the New South Wales Police to New South Wales Police Force.[15]
In June 1991, the State Protection Group (SPG) was formed, incorporating the former Special Weapons & Operations Section (SWOS), the Witness Security Unit, regional Tactical Response Groups and the Rescue Squad. The Security Management Branch and the Bomb Disposal Unit were later included in the group.
The New South Wales Police Force has grown to be the largest in Australia and the highest paid.[3]
After much debate, the NSW Parliament passed the Police Service (Volunteer Police) Amendment Act 1992, which sought to trial voluntary service within the police force, along the lines of the United Kingdom's special constabularies. The trial was not successful and lapsed with the automatic repeal of the Act in 1994.
The headquarters of the New South Wales Police Force is located at 1 Charles Street, Parramatta 2150. The New South Wales Police Force maintains over 500 local police stations coordinated by their respective Local Area Commands.
The New South Wales Police Force consists of three major divisions: Corporate Services, Field Operations and Specialist Operations.[16]
The Corporate Services of the New South Wales Police Force is headed by the Deputy Commissioner (Corporate Services), who is charged with the management of recruitment and education, firearms, records and information process services, Security Industry Registry (SIR), investment and commercial services, safety, business and technology services, human resources, education services, finance, public affairs and legal services.
The Field Operations of the New South Wales Police Force, headed by the New South Wales Police Force Deputy Commissioner (Field Operations), is responsible for managing and overseeing the North West Metropolitan region, South West Metropolitan region, Central Metropolitan region, Southern Metropolitan region, Northern Metropolitan region, Western Metropolitan region, Traffic Services, APEC Police Security Command and Major Events & Incidents Group.
The Specialist Operations of the New South Wales Police Force, headed by the Deputy Commissioner (Specialist Operations), is responsible for a range of specialist groups of the police force. These groups include State Crime Command, Operations Communications & Information Group, Forensics Services Group, Special Services Group, Counter Terrorism and Public Order Management, Police Prosecutions and Professional Standards Command.
Mounted Police Unit
Founded in September 1825 by state governor Thomas Brisbane, the Mounted Police were recruited from a British military regiment stationed in NSW at the time, to protect travellers, suppress convict escapees and fight Indigenous Australians. For over a century they were a key part of policing, as horses were the main form of transport. The NSW Mounted Police Unit is the oldest continuous mounted group in the world.[17] The unit was formed three years before the London Mounted Police and 38 years prior to the 1873 formation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[18]
Duties include traffic and crowd management, patrols, and ceremonial protocol duties. The 34 horses used today are bay geldings, 15.3 hands high or more and include a number of former racehorses.[17]
| AB | Albury | AS | Ashfield | BA | Barwon | BB | Botany Bay | BK | Bankstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BL | Blue Mountains | BN | Blacktown | BR | Barrier | BU | Burwood | BW | Brisbane Water |
| CA | Campsie | CB | Canobolas | CC | Coffs/Clarence | CEH | Central Hunter | CF | Chifley |
| CI | City Central | CM | Cabramatta | CN | Camden | CS | Castlereagh | CT | Campbelltown |
| CU | Cootmundra | DL | Darling River | DQ | Deniliquin | EB | Eastern Beaches | ES | Eastern Suburbs |
| EW | Eastwood | FA | Fairfield | FL | Flemington | FS | Far South Coast | GF | Griffith |
| GL | Gladesville | GN | Goulburn | GV | Green Valley | HB | Hawkesbury | HI | The Hills |
| HR | Holroyd | HS | Harbourside | HU | Hurstville | HV | Hunter Valley | KU | Ku-Ring-Gai |
| KX | Kings Cross | LE | Leichhardt | LI | Lake Illawarra | LL | Lachlan | LM | Lake Macquarie |
| LP | Liverpool | MD | Mount Druitt | ME | Mudgee | MF | Macquarie Fields | ||
| MG | Manning/Great Lakes | MI | Miranda | ML | Manly | MN | Monaro | MC | Mid North Coast |
| MR | Marrickville | NB | Northern Beaches | NCC | Newcastle City | ND | New England | NS | North Shore |
| NT | Newtown | OR | Orana | OX | Oxley | PA | Parramatta | PE | Penrith |
| PTS | Port Stephens | QH | Quakers Hill | RB | Rose Bay | RF | Redfern | RH | Rosehill |
| RM | Richmond | RX | The Rocks | SG | St George | SH | Surry Hills | SM | St Marys |
| SU | Sutherland | SV | Shoalhaven | TB | Tweed/Byron | TL | Tuggerah Lakes | WG | Wollongong |
| WW | Wagga Wagga |
| CIU | Crash Investigations Unit | CLG | NSW Police College | DOG | Dog Squad | FLT | Fleet trial vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FMS | Fleet Management Services | FSG | Forensic Services Group | HWP | Highway Patrol | MDT | Mobile Data Terminal trial vehicle |
| MEOC | Middle East Organised Crimes Squad | MTD | Mounted Police | NWM | North Western Metro | OSG | Public Order Operations Support Group |
| PDT | Police Driver Training | PORS | Public Order & Riot Squad | R | Police Rescue | RES | Region Enforcement Squad |
| SLP | School Liaison Police | SWM | South West Metro | TOU | Tactical Operations Unit | ICV | Highway Patrol Camera Trial Vehicle |
The New South Wales Police Force is run in a para-military structure. All sworn members start at the lowest rank of Probationary Constable / Constable and work their way up. Promotion beyond Senior Constable is highly competitive. The following ranks are listed lowest to highest from left as set out in 2002:[19]
| Rank | Probationary Constable |
Constable | Senior Constable |
Incremental Senior Constable |
Leading Senior Constable |
Sergeant | Incremental Sergeant |
Senior Sergeant |
| Insignia |
| Rank | Inspector | Chief Inspector |
Superintendent | Chief Superintendent |
Assistant Commissioner |
Senior Assistant Commissioner |
Deputy Commissioner |
Commissioner |
| Insignia |
All grades of Constable perform the same basic range of duties, with the rank only reflecting experience. The rank of Probationary Constable is held for the first twelve months of service. Following twelve months of satisfactory service and upon completion of the Associate Degree of Policing Practice via distance education, the Probationary Constable will be confirmed to the rank of Constable. Constables are referred to as "Constable".
Promotion to the rank of Senior Constable can be obtained after five years service and requires the officer to pass an examination which can cover a broad area of policing knowledge. Incremental Senior Constable is obtained after ten years of service. Senior Constables of all grades are referred to as either "Senior Constable" or "Senior".
As in the case from promotion to and throughout commissioned ranks, promotion to the rank of Sergeant and beyond is based upon a "merit based" promotion system. This comprises for appointment by way of promotions from promotion lists. Appointment to any position by way of promotion is made by appointment of the highest ranked available member from a promotion list for the rank concerned. Members seeking placement on a promotion list must have spent the requisite time at the rank below, which is at least two years, and must successfully complete a pre-qualifying assessment, a promotion examination, an applicant evaluation and must meet the eligibility program. Officers who qualify for a promotion list are given an eligibility mark and are ranked according to order of merit from the highest mark to the lowest. A new promotion list for each rank or grade is prepared each year, and an applicant who does not accept promotion can remain on a list only for three years before having to requalify for the list.[20]
Upon promotion to Sergeant and Senior Sergeant, members are issued a Warrant of Appointment under the Commissioner's hand and seal.
A Sergeant normally manages a team during a shift. A Detective Sergeant is normally in charge of a team in a specific part of either Local Area Command Detectives or State Crime Command's many specialised squads.
A Senior Sergeant oversees the Sergeants and traditionally performs more administrative work, coordination of policing operations or specialist work than active patrol duties. Many Senior Sergeants are attached to Regions in Region Training Coordinator, Region Traffic Coordinator, Region Operations Coordinator positions or in Legal Services, Professional Standards, Protocol, Education Services and perform middle management duties.
Sergeants and Incremental Sergeants are referred to as "Sergeant", whilst Senior Sergeants are referred to as "Senior Sergeant".
Upon commissioning, commissioned officers are issued a Certificate of Commission under the Commissioner's hand and seal. Whilst all commissioned ranks may be referred to by the rank they hold, the most common usage is that of "Sir", "Ma'am" or "Boss".
Commissioned Officers have coloured backings on their name badges, which indicates Rank(s); as follows:
Inspector & Chief Inspector: 'Red' backing Superintendent & Chief Superintendent: 'Green' backing Assistant Commissioner, Senior Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner & Commissioner: 'White' backing
Commissioned Officers also have Wreaths on the Brim of their Police Hat(s), to indicate Superiority; as follows:
Inspector, Chief Inspector, Superintendent & Chief Superintendent: Thick Silver Curved Band Assistant Commissioner, Senior Assistant Commissioner & Deputy Commissioner: One Thick Laurel Wreath Commissioner: Two back to back Laurel Wreathes
Along with this, they also have a Silver Chain / Chin Strap above the Hat Brim on the front of the Hat, which indicates that they are a Senior Officer; Sergeant or higher.
If a New South Wales Police Force officer elects to undertake criminal investigation duties, after a period of exams and assignments, and given experience in a criminal investigation office that officer is given the designation of Detective. As it is a designation and not a rank, the designation comes prior to the rank, i.e. Detective Constable, or Detective Senior Constable etc. Returning to general duties (uniform) is common for detectives, and many detectives do seek promotion in the general duties arena. However, while they do not lose their detective's designation if they leave full time investigation duties, it is customary not to use their designation while performing general or other duties which are not an authorised investigative position. Upon returning to an authorised position they can use their designation again without having to requalify. There has been some consideration given by the police force in recent years to identify designated detectives performing uniform duties by way of a distinctive badge or uniform embellishment, but this has not been adopted.
New South Wales Police Force has two uniforms for general duties police officers, one operational (Working Dress) and one ceremonial (Service Dress).
Working Dress of the New South Wales Police Force (known as Operational Dress) consists of navy blue cargo pants with map pockets, ballooned at the bottom, light blue marle short or long sleeve shirt, navy blue baseball cap with blue and white Sillitoe Tartan, and general purpose boots. During winter a navy blue Polartec jacket is worn throughout the state. Ranks are worn on the shoulders by both NCOs and Commissioned Ranks.
Service Dress consists of general purpose boots, Straight Leg Navy Blue Trousers, Blue Marle Shirt, Antron Cap and Leather Duty Jacket. Dependant on rank, members may be issued with polishable lace-up leather boots for ceremonial occasions, similar to that work by senior military personnel.
Officers wear a similar uniform when attending court proceedings, this is usually the full Service Dress during the winter months and for summer consists of Straight Leg Navy Blue Trousers, Blue Marle Shirt and Antron Cap.
During ceremonial occasions, NSW Police Force College Staff, New South Wales Police Force Protocol and NSW Police Force Field Protocol Officers generally wear a Navy Blue Ceremonial Tunic during official occasions such as Attestation Parades (passing out parades), medal ceremonies and funerals etc.
New South Wales Police Force Field Protocol Officers are issued with a light blue/navy blue lanyard to be worn over the right shoulder and tucked into the right pocket during ceremonial occasions.
Full-time Protocol Officers and members of the VIP Cyclists are entitled to wear a black basketweave Sam Browne belt during ceremonial occasions.
In line with the name change of the organisation back to NSW Police Force, the current shoulder patch for uniform reads New South Wales Police Force, and has a redesigned and recoloured eagle.
New South Wales Police Force officers are also entitled to wear Mess dress with Mess kit for black tie or formal dinners/dances. The dark navy blue trousers and mess jacket with cobalt blue cuffs, epaulettes (with ranks) and lapels clearly identify them as being members of the New South Wales Police Force.
Specialist units such as the Public Order and Riot Squad, Air Wing, Marine Area Command and the State Protection Group Tactical Operations Unit all have different uniform needs and are outfitted accordingly such as New South Wales Police Force Rescue Squad with their white overalls, Tactical Operations Unit (TOU) with black and Dog Squad with subdued blue. Detectives wear plain clothes.
During ANZAC day marches and United Nations Day marches in Sydney, New South Wales Police Force Officers can be seen alongside their Australian Federal Police counterparts wearing the distinctive United Nations blue beret and full sized medals, if they have served with the Australian Federal Police in United Nations sanctioned peacekeeping operations.
Members of the NSW Police are issued with the Glock 22 with some specialist sections and plain clothes officers having either the Glock 23 or Glock 27 smaller models available in lieu of the standard model. Members are also issued with a spare magazine for their pistol.
In addition to the standard issue firearm, officers are further issued with Saflock (mark IV & V) handcuffs, O.C. (capsicum spray), expandable baton, Motorola XTS3000/XTS5000/XTS2500 (Digital UHF) or Tait Orca (VHF) Portable radio, and a first aid kit. Members also have access to a fixed baton and Maglite rechargeable torch, which are usually located in all first response police vehicles for each officer 'on the car'. There is also access to overt body armour in every vehicle as required. Specialist tactical officers from elite units such as the State Protection Group and riot officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad have access to a variety of specialised weapons and equipment.
The NSW Police Force has issued TASER Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) which generally are carried by one officer on every first response General Duties vehicle. TASER is also issued to some specialist squads (e.g. Public Order and Riot Squad State Protection Group and the State Protection Support Unit). Each TASER X26 issued to police includes an integrated camera to record all deployments of the device as well as any additional video while the device's safety is switched off.[21][22] The grip used by police may result in no video footage being available; however, audio footage is still "loud and clear". This is due, for safety reasons, to the grip being the same as that used to hold the glock pistol. [4].
Officers carry their equipment on a Leather Duty appointment belt. In recent times, there has been a large movement within the NSW Police Force to implement changes in methods of equipment carry to relieve officers with back injuries. This has ranged from trials of lightweight nylon duty belts, to thigh holsters for firearms and equipment vests. As of 2010, the load-bearing vest has become increasingly prevalent amongst general duty officers and it is anticipated that this trend will continue. It is believed that the vests are effective in relieving officers of chronic back pain, as it takes most of the weight away from the waist and back area, and distributes it across the frontal area of the officer's torso.
Each police officer is issued an identification metal badge with a Warrant Card. Behind the police badge, a member has a coloured plastic backing card which helps identify a member's rank in the force, namely:
Light Blue - Constable & Senior Constable
Dark Blue - Sergeant & Senior Sergeant
Red - Inspector & Chief Inspector
Green - Superintendent & Chief Superintendent
White - Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner & Commissioner
The above colour coding also occurs on a member's name plate. For administrative officers of all grades, the colour on their name plates are gold. Administrative officers are not issued with badges; however, civilian forensic staff are issued with warrant cards.
NSW Police Force has the largest Government fleet in Australia with almost 3000 vehicles obtained on a lease basis. Most LAC response vehicles include Holden Commodore Omega and Ford Falcon sedans. Ford Rangers, Holden Rodeos and VW Transporters are used as caged vehicles. Specialist vehicles include the Nissan Patrol, Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Land Cruiser 4WD for rural and remote areas. Highway Patrol vehicles usually consist of a combination of marked and unmarked Holden SS Commodores and Ford Falcon XR6 Turbos, as well as BMW or Yamaha road motorcycles and trail bikes for off-road duty. Other specialist sections and units use a variety of police vehicles including Toyota Hi-Ace buses, Iveco prisoner vans, Mercedes Sprinter vans, Isuzu trucks, specialist rescue and bomb disposal vehicles, a Lenco BearCat armoured truck and various Suzuki Jimmy Beach Buggies.
In late 2007 (though trialled at various locations for some time), a program introduced by the NSW Police Force to blend in with the community has seen the addition of Performance & Modified vehicles to their vehicle fleet. Mainly the latest Ford Typhoons, but also included is the Subaru Impreza and other older-styled vehicles. The vehicles are fitted with the latest accessories and are in a range of colours.
The Police Aviation Support Branch (Airwing), callsign "POLAIR", is an integral part of the NSW Police Force. It provides services as: search and rescue, support for crime investigation, counter-terrorism, and helps with prevention and detection by keeping a visible presence patrolling the skies.[23]
The current fleet is composed of[24]:
On 6 June 2011, the NSW Police Force Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, announced the incorporation of a new helicopter to the fleet. Referred to as PolAir 4, this is a state-of-the-art, twin-engine Eurocopter EC135 P2+ that is fitted with modern blade technology including a "fenestron" tail-rotor to make aircraft operations quieter over urban areas, and a speed of up to 220 kilometres per hour (140 mph). It is planned that the PolAir 4 will replace the current single-engine models.[25]
The Marine Area Command, formerly the Water Police, is based at Balmain. It has 123 operational water police, marine intelligence unit, marine crime prevention officer, divers, detectives and the marine operational support team[26] and also employs six civilian engineers and 30 deck hands.[27] The current fleet consists of 11 sea going craft, including OPV Nemesis (the largest the largest purpose-built police boat in the Southern Hemisphere[28]), and a number of smaller boats.
The current fleet
The New South Wales Police Academy (formerly known as the New South Wales Police College) occupies some 40 acres (160,000 m2) within Goulburn city boundaries. The Academy is the alma mater of the New South Wales Police Force. The primary function is to educate and train police officers from the newly recruited to the senior executive level. The Academy is located at McDermott Drive, Goulburn NSW 2580.
Located within the Memorial & Honour Precincts, the Academy has a number of memorials dedicated to the Proud Traditions of the New South Wales Police Force, namely the Walls of Remembrance at the College Chapel (which feature those who have died on duty on the Northern Side, and those who have served in war and peacekeeping operations on the Southern Side); the Rose Garden and Eternal Flame; the NSW Police Force Horse & Dog Memorial; and Heroes' Walk (featuring 15 bravery banners including George Cross, Cross of Valour, Star of Courage and George Medal NSW Police Force Recipients).
The latest aspect to the proud traditions project was the installation of the NSW Police Academy Peackeeping display. The display features a range of memorabilia and photographs from peacekeeping missions which NSW Police Force members have contributed to. The display also features the Dag Hammerskjold Medal belonging to the late Sergeant Ian Ward, which is on loan from the AFP for a period of five years.[29] [30] [31]
The Academy has a constant stream of recruits. On 30 January 2007 the largest class of police recruits, numbering 799, in Australia were attested on the Academy Parade Ground. In May 2007, a further 284 recruits were attested. Students are identified by a light blue hat band and light blue epaulettes with the word STUDENT (in block capitals, as here) as opposed to rank.
The Associate Degree of Policing Practice is awarded to a graduate of the college by its university provider, Charles Sturt University (CSU).[32]
However, a prospective student can choose to undertake a Bachelor of Justice Studies (Policing) directly with Charles Sturt University on a 'civilian' campus for Session 1 for two years and then move onto the Police College to complete policing oriented subjects (including practical training and experience) before attesting Probationary Constable.[33]
Alternate entry pathways to NSW Police Force are available. Examples are: the 3-year Bachelor of Policing course (offered by the University of Western Sydney (UWS)), or the Bachelor of Justice Studies (Policing) course of the same length offered also by Charles Sturt University (Bathurst Campus). Both of these courses require the final portion to be completed at the Goulburn Police College, alongside common-entry recruits, for the practical components of policing education.
Charles Sturt University has a campus on the grounds of the New South Wales Police Academy. The School of Policing Practice forms part of Charles Sturt University Faculty of Arts. The School also offers the Bachelor of Policing and the Bachelor of Policing (Investigations).
NSW Police Force Banner
On 29 September 2006, the Administrator of the Commonwealth of Australia, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, presented the NSW Police Banner to the New South Wales Police Force at a moving ceremony adjacent to the NSW Police Force Roll of Honour at the Domain in Sydney, Australia.[34]
Later that day, the banner led the NSW Police Force marching contingent at the Dedication of the National Police Memorial in Canberra.
NSW Police Force Flag and Pennants
The New South Wales Police Force has an official flag. It has the NSW Police 'Nemesis' logo on a light blue over white bicolour.
The New South Wales Mounted Police unit carries a swallowtailed Navy Blue and White pennant on Lances. There is no 'Nemesis' logo attached.
The NSW Police Commissioner and the VIP Cyclists have a NSW Police 'Nemesis' logo on a light blue over white bicolour pennant on their transportation. The pennant is swallowtailed.
Recognition for the bravery and sacrifice of members of the New South Wales Police Force is expressed through honours and awards. The New South Wales Police Force was the first Australian Police jurisdiction to have one of its members awarded the Imperial Honour, namely the George Cross and the Australian Honour the Cross of Valour. Sergeant 3rd Class Eric George BAILEY GC was awarded the George Cross posthumously on the 12 January 1945.
New South Wales Police Force also has the distinction in having one of its members being awarded the highest civilian bravery award, namely the Cross of Valour. In its history, only five people have been awarded that award, with a New South Wales Police Officer being the first Australian Police Officer to receive it. On 3 May 1996, the then Detective Senior Constable Sparkes rescued a boy trapped in a flooded underground storm water drain following record rainfalls at Coffs Harbour.[35]
New South Wales Police Force Officers are eligible for the following National Honours and Awards:
New South Wales Police Force also has a number of inservice Honours and Awards, awarded by the Commissioner of New South Wales Police Force. Commissioner Peter Ryan QPM implemented the New South Wales Police Force Commissioner's Olympic Commendation and the New South Wales Police Force Olympic Citation. This award is significant as the New South Wales Police Force is the only police force in the world to be permitted the Olympic Rings to be attached. It has been widely reported and accepted that the Sydney 2000 Olympics was the "Safest Games in modern Olympic history".
Former New South Wales Police Force Commissioner Ken Moroney AO APM implemented the Commissioners Community Service Commendation and Community Service Citation in 2002.
New South Wales Police Force Honours and Awards are regarded by members of the New South Wales Police Force to be highly prized due to the fact that they are only awarded to members in small numbers. The only award that was given out in large numbers was the Commissioner's Olympic Citation due to the massive contribution by all members of the force.
The above in-service decorations are worn 5mm below the officer's name plate and are right-sided decorations.
The following in-service decorations are worn 5mm above the officer's name plate and are right-sided decorations.
In peacekeeping operations, New South Wales Police Force Officers are seconded to the Australian Federal Police and take an Oath or Affirmation of the AFP. They are then appointed to the Rank of Senior Sergeant, Station Sergeant, Superintendent or Commander. Following their service, UN Peacekeeping Veterans are awarded the United Nations Medal for their particular Mission. In addition, under the Australian System of Honours and Awards, police officers serving with peacekeeping organisations are awarded the Police Overseas Service Medal with the relevant clasp for the prescribed area of service. As at 2008, two clasps to the Police Overseas Service Medal have been awarded to NSW Police members, namely Cyprus and East Timor.
NSW Police Force members were among the first Australian Police sent to Cyprus in May 1964 as the first United Nations Police Contingent. The United Nations Civilian Police (now known as UNPOL or United Nations Police) was established with a 3 month mandate to end hostilities between the Greek and Turkish communities and promote peace on the Island. The operation has been extended for some 42 years.
NSW Police Force members were subsequently withdrawn from Cyprus in 1976, along with all other State and Territory Police following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on 20 July 1974. During the invasion and preceding it the Australian Police were subject to machine gun and mortar fire and Turkish air attack. Some of their personal motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal items at that time were destroyed, lost or stolen. Fortunately, there was no loss of Australian lives at that time. Australian police continued to negotiate between the invading Turkish Army, other warring parties and escorted refugees to safety from both sides.[36]
Since UNFICYP commenced, a large number of the NSW Police has served in Cyprus alongside other Australian police jurisdictions. From 2002 to 2005, 45 NSW Police Force Officers were involved in UNTAET and UNMISET seconded to the Australian Federal Police for their Tour of Duty in East Timor with the United Nations.
In addition, two New South Wales Police Force Officers have been commended for courage for Peacekeeping in East Timor, one by the Australian Government, and the Australian Federal Police Commissioners Commendation for Bravery (Station Sergeant David McCann OAM - UNMISET[37] and one by the New South Wales Police Force Commissioner (Senior Sergeant Mark Aubrey Gilpin - UNTAET). Station Sergeant McCann was awarded the Commendation for Brave Conduct for his part in the rescue of 110 vulnerable persons from a village in East Timor after it suffered major flooding. Senior Sergeant Gilpin was awarded the New South Wales Police Commendation (courage) for his part in protecting a member of the community who was being subjected to mob justice. He placed his body in front of the mob, who were armed with machettes and other weapons and managed to extract the victim to safety.
Out of the ten Australian peacekeepers who have died on peacekeeping missions, two were from New South Wales Police Force whilst serving with UNFICYP. Sergeant Ian Ward and Inspector Patrick Hackett died in separate incidents in UNFCYP. 124 soldiers and police gave their lives whilst serving with the United Nations in Cyprus.[38]
This concentration of policing power in the New South Wales Police is thought to have led to the multi-generational and endemic levels of corruption, graft and vice. Following a number of highly secretive operations conducted between 1989 and 1992 by NSW Police and Officers of the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence (ABCI) (these operations included: Asset, Seca 1, Seca 2 and ABCI Intelligence Probe Buckshot), it became clear that this corruption was beyond the investigation capacity of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (NSW ICAC). This was because the investigation staff of the ICAC included police on secondment from the NSW Police Service. What followed was a series of articles in the Sydney press exposing what became known at the time as the "Black Knights versus White Knights" within the NSW Police Service. Independent members of the NSW Parliament pressured the Liberal government of the day to establish what became Australia's largest ever Royal Commission. Known informally as 'the Wood Royal Commission', it was a State-sponsored judicial inquiry into police corruption led by Justice James Wood of the New South Wales Supreme Court. This Royal Commission, which lasted approximately two years, uncovered crimes and institutionalised corruption throughout the NSW Police Service (as it was then known) by a large number of officers, most notably detectives. This unexpected discovery by the Royal Commission led to a widening of its terms of reference to include the investigation of paedophilia and sex crimes outside the Police Service and implicated members of the legal fraternity . However, critics of the Royal Commission argue that it should have had a wider terms of reference, namely the New South Wales Parliament and New South Wales Criminal Justice System but considering the political ramifications that would have resulted, this did not occur .
The biggest impact of the Wood Royal Commission was the uprooting of many corrupt detectives in the force (which, despite the almost daily allegations of depravity and criminality, consisted of only a small but very influential minority of the total Police Service) and the establishment of the Police Integrity Commission - an independent, permanent tribunal with some judicial powers that now stands as a permanent watchdog over police corruption, but is not part of the NSW Police (unlike the old Internal Affairs Bureau). Indeed, the legislation which established and authorises the activities of the PIC prevents any person who is a current member, or has ever been a member, of the NSW Police from being employed by the PIC. The inclusion of this provision was a recognition of the questionable impact that NSW Police seconded to the ICAC had on the capacity of that agency to deal with police corruption in NSW.
Due to the growing number of violent attacks in the state in 2006, then president of the New South Wales Police Association, Bob Pritchard, commented on 7 January 2007, that the state is "very short of police and that there is a need to increase the number of police officers throughout the state significantly".[39]
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