The 2026 Police Community Sentiment Survey is now open—but, although not widely available, it is only for those in the know — it raises serious questions about how effectively community voices are being captured and used. With last year’s survey attracting just 7,600 responses from a population of around 7 million, participation levels appear far too low to provide meaningful insight. Even more concerning, the same top safety priorities—public safety, property protection, drugs and alcohol, road safety, and organised crime—have remained unchanged since 2023, suggesting the survey may be highlighting issues everyone already knows, rather than driving real improvements.

The article takes a deeper look at whether the survey is truly designed to engage the broader community or simply reaches those already connected to policing. It challenges the lack of transparency around outcomes, the absence of key performance measures, and the limited promotion of the survey itself. Importantly, it also outlines practical, community-focused solutions that could strengthen trust and deliver real impact. To explore the full analysis, including proposed reforms and ideas for improving community engagement, read the complete article on our website.

Go to https://caainc.org.au/