NSW Police have received a significant boost of $168.8 million in the state budget following a spate of public-place shootings detectives believe are linked to organised crime groups.
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The government said the investment would help drive down crime and increase community safety.
The funding will take the total budget for the force in 2022/23 to more than $5.5 billion.
The funds would go towards upgrading and delivering new stations, building and training facilities, and bringing in new officers, Deputy Premier and Police Minister Paul Toole said on Tuesday.
"The NSW government is committed to providing our 22,000 sworn police officers and staff with world-class infrastructure and equipment to ensure they have all the tools they need to stay ahead of the game when it comes to tackling crime," Mr Toole said.
Funds have also been allocated to set up a biometric platform to create offender profiles.
"Streamlining the process for key evidence such as DNA, fingerprints, and photographs will drastically improve the capabilities of police to identify offenders involved in serious crimes," the minister said.
The budget includes $54.3 million for upgrades at the Goulburn Police Academy, an active armed offender training facility in Dapto and the NSW Police Firearms registry in Tweed Heads.
Some $95.9 million will be spent on bringing in another 550 police officers, to join the force in 2022/23, as part of the government's commitment to recruit 1500 officers in four years.
About $96 million will be spent over five years on improving digital devices including automatically activated body-cameras, which turn on when pistols and tasers are worn, as well as increasing connectivity between police vehicles.
Some $18.6 million over four years will go towards replacing specialised police vehicles, and another $16.6 million over five years will for new transport vehicles for people in custody.
A training program for major information and communications technology infrastructure will be set up, costing $48.7 million over four years.
Funds will also go to building new police stations in Byron Bay, Port Macquarie and Blayney.
NSW Police Acting Commissioner David Hudson said the multi-billion dollar investment would continue the modernisation of the police force.
"Simply put, (police) wouldn't be able to do their jobs safely and efficiently without specialist equipment and technology," he said.
"The funding announced today will significantly improve the capability of our general duties and specialist police officers resulting in improved community safety across the state."
Australian Associated Press
