THE NSW Police Force will be assisted by 263 new probationary constables to enforce COVID-19 restrictions after they were sworn in two weeks early at a private attestation parade in Goulburn on Thursday.
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No visitors, family or friends were able to attend the parade to reduce the risk of graduates catching the virus.
Chief Superintendent Rod Smith at the NSW Police Force Academy said it was a "significantly different parade" to usual.
"There was no band, no horses, none of those supporting units. The class was attested without any movement, so there was no marching. They were on the parade ground but they were separated by two metres. They have been on-site here for the past three weeks without leaving so they have been isolated and the risk was low but we still observed all social distancing requirements," he said.
The cadet program was adjusted to allow the ceremony to be brought forward by two weeks to get probationary constables onto the front line, Supt. Smith said.
NSW Police Force Commissioner Mick Fuller said the latest intake would provide a valuable boost to police resources as the state faces the threat of COVID-19.
"I welcome our newest police officers from Class 340 who attest at a very significant time. They will hit the ground running and I want them to know that I have their back," he said.
Class 340 included 177 men and 86 women who will report to their stations on Tuesday, April 14 after eight months of training.
Supt. Smith said there was no doubt it was disappointing that family and friends couldn't be at the ceremony.
"However, I must say, the class had just as much pride today as they normally would," he said.
Minister for police and emergency services David Elliott said he was working with Commissioner Fuller to "ensure that all recruits attesting this year will be celebrated bigger than ever when it is safe to do so."
Thirty-one of the recruits were born overseas in countries including Italy, Afghanistan, USA, Thailand and Lebanon. Five recruits were Indigenous.
Some recruits entered the academy straight from school or university, while others left professional careers and trades.
The Central Metropolitan Region (Sydney city and eastern suburbs) will receive 71 of the graduates, North West Metropolitan Region (Blacktown, Blue Mountains and North Shore) will receive 76, South West Metropolitan Region (Bankstown and Campbelltown) will receive 60, Northern Region (Hunter Valley and Mid North Coast) will receive 15, Southern Region (Hume, Wollongong and Lake Illawarra) will receive 19 and Western Region (Central West and Oxley) will receive 20.
Images will be released and published later today.
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