Fears 400 jobs lost in Qld police review
ABC News.
Up to 400 Queensland police officers are set to lose their jobs under proposed new changes to the service.
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is undergoing a major internal overhaul to save money and to get more officers back on the beat.
Senior police have told the ABC as many as 150 officers from the rank of Inspector and higher would be cut by natural attrition or offered voluntary redundancies if recommendations in the review are accepted.
Senior police have told the ABC the cutbacks have been recommended as part of internal review of the service, its operations, and organisational structure.
It is understood the state's eight police regions would be reduced to five, and the number of detectives employed within State Crime Operations Command would be cut from 700 to 350, starting from next week.
The public face of the service, the police media unit, is also likely to be affected.
The ABC has been told that section would be cut by half.
The State Government and two police unions say confidentiality agreements prevent them from discussing the matter.
Acting Opposition Leader Tim Mulherin says proposed cuts to the police force are only the beginning of public servant job losses for the year.
Mr Mulherin says it is only a matter of time before other emergency services staff face cuts.
"What's next - ambos and firies?" he said.
"Who would've imagined the Newman Government, after sacking 14,000 public servants, they would sack another 150 police officers.
"If I was a firie or ambo I'd be worried about my job."
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