Annual Report
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Commissioner's Foreword
This report illustrates the considerable achievements of the NSW Police Force and its people over the last 12 months. During the year we have assisted, in partnership with emergency service and other government agencies and members of the general public, in driving down crime and keeping the people of New South Wales safe and secure. |
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[Read more about NSW Police Force approach to Public Safety] |
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[Read more about NSW Police Force approach to Community and Partners] |
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The NSW Police Force is the largest policing service in Australia, responsible for protecting a population in excess of 6,927,000. In 2007-08 our net cost of services was $2.3 billion, with the vast majority of this amount spent on salaries and employee related expenses for our 15,324 police officers and 3,995 civilian staff.
Section One: Crime 
Section Two: Public Safety 
This reporting year we targeted violent crime and property crime with a significant focus on robbery and alcohol related crime. We also conducted operations that targeted hot spot locations and repeat offenders. This has resulted in the NSW Police Force dismantling a number of criminal networks operating locally and overseas; dismantling a number of large illicit drug labs; seizing firearms destined for the illicit gun market; arresting members of an organised paedophile network; investigating outlaw motor cycle gangs and their illegal activities; and using forensic science to link repeat offenders to crime scenes. Overall our efforts have seen a reduction in crime and offenders have been brought to justice.
This reporting year we continued our focus on perception and fear of crime, improved efforts to detect and deter rock throwing and focused on alcohol related crime. Our targeted traffic enforcement saw our road toll fall to its lowest since 1945; we increased resources for drug testing New South Wales drivers; we introduced smarter breath analysis instruments; and we targeted illegal street racing and ‘hoon’ driving. We communicated core messages to address fear and perception of crime; we maintained safety from acts of terrorism; we successfully met our greatest security challenge to date, the 2007 APEC meetings; we started planning for World Youth Day; and we successfully managed other major events.
Section Three: Community & Partnership
Section Four: People
This reporting year we continued to support victims; we further built partnerships with Aboriginal communities; improved community networks and information; improved community partnerships through working together on the State Plan; and we focused on improved customer service, now a key measure of our success.
This reporting year we continued to focus on our people. We enhanced our capabilities through aligning flexible rostering to reduce and prevent crime; delivered professional development of our staff and fostered workforce diversity to reflect our community; built a safe and supportive work environment which progressed a culture of workplace safety; supported our people; and reinforced individual accountability and ethics at all levels.
Section Five: Systems
Section Six: Leadership
This reporting year we supported improved crime and safety through systems development, enhancement and process improvement. We streamlined procedures and legislation to reduce red tape; improved the usefulness, reliability, accessibility, integrity and value of our information, communication and technologies; we enhanced our internal controls; and promoted good practice within the NSW Police Force.
This reporting year there have been significant changes in our leadership team. This has seen the State Plan driven from the top with clear direction and changes to our organisation structure and senior staff; these have been supported by our governance structures; improved accountability; and new business planning and audit methodology developments. We have also driven environmentally responsible leadership.