Reduction in Police Basic Courses: This Many Spots Are Being Cut

According to research by APA, the cutbacks relate to over 400 originally planned basic training positions for the respective intake period. The Ministry of the Interior stated on Friday morning that "the Federal Police Directorate decides completely autonomously" on the start of training as well as the number of trainees.

Police Basic Courses Canceled During Admission Process: Discontent Among Applicants

As can be seen from the ministry's planning for 2025 made last autumn, originally 694 people nationwide were supposed to start basic training this September. Instead, there are now only a total of 288 places for Vienna, Upper Austria, and Vorarlberg, as evidenced by a letter signed on June 17 to the state police directorates. At that time, the admission process was still in full swing in several federal states, as confirmed to APA in executive as well as applicant circles. In Carinthia, admission interviews were even still taking place on that day, which - as in other affected states - continued at least until the last full week of June.

The cutbacks have certainly caused discontent among applicants. After being informed - as usual - in May about his "good score" on the first test day, according to his own statements, he had already "looked for apartments at the training location," reported an applicant from one of the affected federal states. "My girlfriend quit her job so we could move together." A few days after the second test day, the rejection came via email, but without mentioning the course cancellations. Achieved points are valid for one year and could be used for the admission process in Vienna or Vorarlberg, it said in the email.

He had "invested 420 euros in a preparation course," said another applicant - "because I really wanted to make it." After the joy of a score in the upper range, he too had already had hopes. "Of course, I was then disappointed." A similar story was told by a woman who had been promised a fixed place for the previous June intake "around Easter" by summons. Because her life circumstances changed at short notice and a timely start was no longer possible due to a two-month notice period, she planned to use her "above-average high test result" for admission in September and communicated this. With the test result in hand, she subsequently quit her job. She said she is "now in a stupid position."

Ministry of the Interior: Notification of Summons One Month in Advance

The Ministry of the Interior stated on Friday that applicants are legally required to be informed one month in advance of being called up for a specific course at a specific time. "Those who have already successfully completed the admission process and are in the pool for the next possible course often find out even earlier," it was said. "It is clear that one should not base their financial and social circumstances on mere probability or assumptions," it was emphasized.

"There has never been a call-up of a person for police training that was later canceled at short notice. There has never been a commitment to a specific training session that then did not take place," it was clarified. After each successful test day, separate information is provided, "in addition, of course, the information that one has successfully completed the admission." The specific call-up takes place at a later date, depending on personnel planning. Furthermore, no one can decide for themselves when and where they will be admitted.

Regarding the canceled courses, it was said that "constant and complex calculation models" are running in the background. Additionally, there is a corridor of three years "when an employee can retire." Regular personnel controlling continuously leads to changes in the admission plan.

Initial Planning for 2026 Already Made

For 2026, the planning for the first session in March and the September session in each federal state foresees "one or more classes." "This is based on the future forecast of how many departures in 2028 - after the two-year basic training - need to be replaced," it was said. The forecast can, of course, still change. Additionally, the ministry spoke of a "very concerning concerted action by certain individuals and lobbies" against the police. Currently, there is a personnel peak and "overcrowded police schools." Except for Vienna and Vorarlberg, there is an excess of existing personnel.

Previously, Martin Heinzl, federal chairman of the police union from the Christian Trade Unionists (FCG) faction, feared damage to the image of the police as an employer last Saturday in the Ö1 "Morgenjournal." "The problem is also that they (note: the applicants) have already been tested and expected courses to come," said Heinzl. His deputy Hermann Greylinger from the red FSG added on Friday to the APA. He had not experienced such an approach in "48 years as a police officer, 29 of which as a staff representative, in this uniqueness," criticized Greylinger. He cynically spoke of a "showpiece of personnel policy." "If you cannot rely on your employer, you will not stay long."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.