The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls condemns in the strongest possible terms the South Australian Government’s reckless decision to lower police recruitment standards in an attempt to fast-track unfit applicants into the force.
This move will not make our communities safer — it will put more lives at risk.
It has now been revealed that SA Police are actively reconsidering applicants who previously failed psychometric and probity testing — core safeguards designed to assess cognitive and ethical suitability for policing. This comes on the heels of a decision to drop even basic literacy and numeracy requirements for police cadets, meaning new recruits will not have to demonstrate spelling or maths proficiency before entering the Police Academy.
‘This is not a recruitment strategy — it is a public safety crisis in the making,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘That this announcement comes just weeks after the Government allocated $6.8 million for new guns for police, and while the community mourns the recent death of Gaurav Kundi, which is being treated as a death in custody, speaks volumes,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘Rather than confronting the harms caused by policing, the State is doubling down — arming up, lowering the bar, and ensuring that even more unfit and unaccountable people are given a badge, a weapon, and the power to cage, harm and kill,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘We do not need more police. We do not need to dumb down the violent institution of policing in order to prop it up. We need to have the courage to name what is harming us all — and to stop pouring money into systems that actively endanger us,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘Policing does not keep our communities safe — it surveils, disciplines, and disappears people, particularly Aboriginal women, trans people, poor and racialised communities. Recruiting people who were previously deemed unsuitable even by police standards will not improve public safety. It will escalate the risk of violence, misconduct and abuse — especially for those already most targeted,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘Even the Police Association has flagged serious concerns, acknowledging that fast-tracking unsuitable candidates creates “obvious risks to the recruit, other police members and community safety.” If the union representing officers and usually defends police practices are saying “this is dangerous,” then something is seriously wrong,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘It is pretty clear that this move is not about community safety — it’s about expanding police power at any cost,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘This is a moment that demands political courage and moral clarity. The National Network call on the South Australian Government to halt this dangerous recruitment approach and commit to an urgent redirection of resources away from policing and into the services that actually make communities safer: housing, mental health care, disability support, community-led family violence responses, and safe spaces for young people,’ said Tabitha Lean.
The National Network stands with all those grieving the life of Gaurav Kundi, and all those who have lost loved ones to state violence. We know what safety looks like — and it does not look like this.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474 or Tabitha Lean on 0499 780 226.
