Incentives arrest decline in aspiring police recruits

A new campaign to tempt potential recruits to join the NSW Police Force by paying them to undergo training is working so well it has caused concern for other forces, the state's police chief says.

The hiring blitz is aimed to fill a vacancy gap of 1500 officers across NSW, with more than double that number leaving their jobs in recent years.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the government pledge to fund recruit training had netted more than 1500 applications.

Welcoming 169 of those new graduates at a ceremony on Friday, Ms Catley said New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was concerned his force could not match the new deal.

"We're getting them from across the ditch as well ... even the prime minister in New Zealand, he's very worried," she said.

"He said 'we can't compete with NSW'.

"I'll definitely have to catch up with him in America and give him a few tips."

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the force had received applications from potential recruits drawn from a myriad of careers.

"Council workers, some are former military, others have had a gap year - they've done all sorts of things," she said.

Premier Chris Minns said the opportunity to join NSW Police was available to all.

"Part of this plan is getting mid-career professionals who maybe have a trade or have started in a different career ... to transition to becoming a cop," he said.

"We don't want them to think that the door is shut or that the boat has left.

"There's still an opportunity to become a NSW Police officer and by being paid to study, we expect more people to make that jump."

As part of changes that began in March, trainee officers will be paid while completing their 16-week course, which the government has credited with helping to fill an entire class of 350 recruits.

NSW Police had lost almost 2500 constables and 700 sergeants between 2019 and 2023, Mr Minns told parliament in May.

Australian Associated Press