Chris Cahill: Police Association President on the report showing gaps in new recruits’ skills

The police union says senior police officers' apparent lack of confidence in incoming cops will provide an opportunity for development. 

Senior officers have criticised the quality of new officers in a police college survey.

More than half believe new staff were 'barely' or 'not at all' well equipped with procedures around making an arrest.

Police Association President Chris Cahill says it demonstrates where effort is needed.

"We've always said over the years that the group after us aren't as good as we were and there's an element of that in there, but it certainly gives a steer where they need to put more resources in

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
A survey of senior police officers shows there's concern that
the cops coming out of Police College aren't up to
the job. This is the survey of training officers found
fifty five percent feel that new cops were barely or
not at all well equipped with knowledge of arrest and
charge procedures. Chris Carhill is the president of the Police
Association and with us right now.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hey, Chris, good afternoon. Either have they got.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
Something to complain about here or is it just experienced
people complaining about the youngies. Like in every sector, there's.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
A little bit of that. Look, there's some good stuff
there that give you the steer at the college where
they need to put some more time. But I think
we've always said over the years that the group after
is aren't as good as we were in as an
element of that in there there's some quite good stuff here.
I was pleased to see that the stuff where I'm driving,
tactical options, firearms generally they thought the guys were doing
recruits were doing really well in those areas. But it

(00:51):
certainly gives a steer where they need to put more
resources in at the college.

Speaker 1 (00:54):
Not so good at the paperwork now, is that just
because no one's good at paperwork when they're young, or
is it because young people are coming out of school
not very good at doing the reading and writing what
do you reckon?

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Well, I think there's a little bit of that. I
think also it's an area that college needs to put
more time until we do know. We get a lot
of reports that they're not good at taking statements, chain
of evidence, preparation of stuff for court really important. Not
mess through the sexy stuff, but the stuff that will
catch you out when you're out on the street and
you start suddenly going to court and putting files together.
So there is also stuff you sort of have to

(01:27):
learn as well as you do, but certainly an area
to put more resources into.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
I think, yeah, hey, thank you very much. Chris appreciated
Chris Carhill Police Association.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
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