T
he NSW Police Force has welcomed its largest class of recruits in more than 13 years, with 349 probationary constables officially sworn in as part of Class 368.
Among them are eight officers who will begin work in Burwood Police Area Command, according to local MP Jason Yat-sen Li, who highlighted the intake in a social media post following last Friday’s ceremony.
The latest graduation comes as the NSW Government continues efforts to rebuild police numbers after years of staffing pressure and growing concerns around officer retention across the state.
Since the Minns Government took office, 2,697 recruits have joined the NSW Police Force, with 72 assigned to the Burwood area, Mr Li said.
The government has linked the recruitment rise to several policy changes introduced over the past two years, including a pay increase for officers, paid training at the Goulburn Police Academy and the “Be a Cop In Your Hometown” program, which aims to place officers in communities where they already have local ties.
Additional pathways have also been opened for police cadets and experienced interstate officers looking to transfer into NSW.
Police recruitment and retention have remained a political and operational issue in NSW, particularly after concerns raised by the Police Association about workloads, burnout and officers leaving the force for interstate roles offering higher pay and different conditions.
The state government has argued its reforms are helping reverse those trends, while opposition figures have continued to question whether staffing levels are keeping pace with population growth and rising demand on frontline services.
Class 368 marks one of the largest intakes in recent years and reflects a broader push to strengthen local policing capacity across metropolitan and regional commands.
Mr Li thanked the new officers and their families, saying their work would help support community safety across NSW.
The new recruits will now begin duties across various commands after completing training through the NSW Police Academy.
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