NCJ Number
83867
Date Published
1982
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the major manpower trends in the Australian police forces during the 1960's and 1970's and the economic influences affecting police force composition.
Abstract
Police employment is the responsibility of State and Territory Governments. The police labor market is characterized by a relatively young, less well-educated workforce. Police forces during the 1960's and 1970's were 96.3 percent male. The actual level and composition of police forces reflect accommodation of adjustment to economic trends and influences. The outcome of this adjustment process in terms of police employment is that total police force strength in Australia has risen 80 percent since 1964. This increase has been ahead of population and motor vehicle accident growth but below crime level and traffic level increases. The clearest adjustment to these pressures is through labor substitution of females, departmental civilians, and other criminal justice employees and through quality adjustments in the form of decreased clearance rates. There is some evidence that relative wages have moved in the direction implied by an increasing relative shortage of police. Governments have increased police provision but not enough to maintain previous standards of law and order. Seven tables, four references, and five figures are provided.