The South Australian Government says its unprecedented investment to boost police resources is seeing record numbers of people applying to join SA Police.
Last financial year, a record 3,050 people from across Australia and overseas applied to join SA Police.
This has seen additional recruitment courses added at the SA Police Academy with double the number of graduate cadets.
Across 2024-25 financial year, 264 people graduated from the training academy.
This is more than double the number of police graduating from the training academy under the former State Government, which saw just 111 cadets graduate during 2021-22.
| Year | Applications | Sworn in |
| 2018-19 | 922 | 181 |
| 2019-20 | 996 | 129 |
| 2020-21 | 1451 | 136 |
| 2021-22 | 1825 | 111 |
| 2022-23 | 2250 | 167 |
| 2023-24 | 2394 | 242 |
| 2024-25 | 3050 | 264 |
The SA Government provided $12.2m over three years from 2023-24 to accelerate recruitment with measures including increasing the number of courses delivered by the Police Academy, engaging in recruitment campaigns, and improving vocational pathways.
In addition, the 2025-26 State Budget included the largest boost to police funding in the state’s history.
This included $172 million over six years to recruit more police with the aim to target 5000 sworn officers by 2031.
“This government has made unprecedented investments in SA Police, and it is helping better protect the community,” said SA Premier, Peter Malinuaskas.
“We have record numbers of people applying to join SA Police and double the number of graduates when compared to the previous Liberal Government.”
The Premier said the State Government and SA Police were also working to ensure more sworn officers are on frontline duties.
The Police Security Officer model will be extended to regional areas following its success in metropolitan Adelaide, with an additional 98 PSO’s to be trained over the next three years.
“SA Police has introduced new recruiting initiatives over the past two years, with Pathways to Policing and work experience program enticing young people to join, as well as our partnerships with sporting organisations,” said Police Minister, Blair Boyer.
“By boosting the number of frontlines officers, SA Police can direct resources where they’re needed most to keep the community safe.”
While $9.7 million was allocated in the recent budget to expand the workforce civilisation model which sees administrative staff perform office duties and sworn officers redeployed to front line roles.
“SA Police is training more cadets at the academy than ever before, and more sworn officers are returning to frontline duties,” the Premier said.
The Government says its record investment is helping keep the community safe with a significant decline in reported offences.
The rolling yearly data to the end of June shows there were 6,694 fewer offences reported to SA Police, a 5% drop on the previous financial year.
It is the 11th consecutive month there has been a reduction in reported crimes.
Significantly, there was a 10% drop in reports of theft related offences year on year, as well as a 10% reduction in the number of house break-ins.
