ACT Police Praised for Diversity Amid Staffing and Youth Justice Concerns in 2026 National Report
The Australian Capital Territory has been highlighted as a national leader in police force diversity, according to the latest 2026 Report on Government Services. However, the report also reveals ongoing challenges, including the lowest number of police officers per capita in Australia and concerning trends in youth justice diversion rates.
Diversity Achievements Stand Out
The ACT is the only jurisdiction where the percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the police workforce nearly doubles their representation in the general population. First Nations people constitute 2 per cent of Canberra's population but make up 3.8 per cent of ACT Policing staff.
Female representation among sworn officers has also seen positive growth, increasing to 31 per cent from 28 per cent in 2021-2022. Additionally, the force's latest annual report confirms the inclusion of two non-binary sworn officers, reflecting broader diversity efforts.
Staffing Levels Remain Below National Average
Despite a slight increase in operational sworn police officers per 100,000 Canberrans during 2024-2025, the ACT continues to have the lowest police-to-population ratio nationwide. With 169 sworn officers per 100,000 people, the territory falls well below the national average of 211, which itself has decreased from 223 in 2015-2016.
On a positive note, the ACT police force boasts the lowest workforce attrition rate in the country, suggesting strong retention despite staffing challenges.
Budget Increases and Youth Justice Concerns
Recent ACT budget data indicates a sharp rise in recurrent expenditure since 2023-2024, primarily driven by the new Australian Federal Police Enterprise Agreement and associated salary increases.
However, the report raises alarms about youth justice, showing that diversion rates for young offenders in the ACT have reached record lows. Only 7.6 per cent of First Nations youth and 27.2 per cent of non-First Nations youth were diverted from the criminal justice system in 2024-2025.
This decline follows legislative changes that raised the age of criminal responsibility to 12 in 2023 and then to 14 in July 2025. Prior to these changes, youth diversion rates had been around 28 per cent.
Road Safety and Custody Deaths Data
Productivity Commission data reveals a concerning spike in road-related trauma, with road deaths per 100,000 people rising to 2.1 in 2024-2025, up from 1.7 in previous years.
In more positive news, the ACT and Tasmania remain the only jurisdictions without any First Nations deaths in police custody since 2008. Nationally, there were 22 deaths in police custody in 2024-2025, including six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This represents a significant decrease from the 18-year high of 41 deaths recorded in 2022-2023.
The 2026 report card presents a mixed picture for ACT Policing, celebrating diversity achievements while highlighting areas requiring urgent attention, particularly in staffing levels and youth justice outcomes.
