NSW: Streamlined executive to put more NSW police on front line

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2007
NSW: Streamlined executive to put more NSW police on front line

By Simon Kirby, Police Reporter

SYDNEY, Dec 10 AAP - An overhaul of the NSW police executive will streamline work processes,
resulting in more officers for frontline duties and stronger community ties, Commissioner
Andrew Scipione says.

Among changes announced by Mr Scipione today is the abolition of the Commissioner's
Inspectorate, with its functions to be split between two deputy commissioners and the
executive director of corporate services.

"We will be taking a number of those positions that were in the Commissioner's Inspectorate
and pushing them back to field operations, which is where most of our interactions happen,"

Mr Scipione told reporters.

"It means we are closer to the front line, to the community, we can listen and respond
quicker and that's certainly been one of my primary goals."

The Commissioner's Inspectorate includes a number of administrative and specialist
units, including Aboriginal coordination and cultural diversity teams and the schools
response unit.

New assistant commissioners will also be appointed to head several specialised commands,
including State Crime Command, Counter-Terrorism and Special Tactics.

The officers currently in those roles are considering offers of positions at senior
command level.

"It's about new ideas, it's about moving people into roles where they can bring the
whole lot of experience they have into play," Mr Scipione said.

"This is about revitalisation and renewal of the force - a new team needs to be put into place."

Other changes include the establishment of police prosecutors as a stand-alone branch
under Specialist Operations Command.

Mr Scipione said the changes were part of a process for renewal that he had been working
on since assuming the top job three months ago.

"Since I took office in September, my focus has been on ways we can best deliver services,
both for community and police," Mr Scipione.

"What this change will achieve will be reduction in duplication and, in places, allow
for uniformed officers to return to positions in the field."

Mr Scipione said he would know exactly how many police will return to frontline positions
by early February, when the changes come into effect, but he admitted it would not be
a huge number.

"I don't think this is about returning hundreds and hundreds of police onto the streets,"

Mr Scipione told reporters in Sydney.

"It's more about getting our business house in order and that is a benefit."

Mr Scipione said the catalyst for the changes was the government's State Plan, which
is one year old today.

Police Minister David Campbell said the overhaul would modernise the management structure
of the force.

"(It is also) a means of ensuring a continued focus on locking up crooks, supporting
victims and of course of making sure there's high-profile front line police," Mr Campbell
said.

AAP sk/hn/jt/sp

KEYWORD: POLICE NSW NIGHTLEAD

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