The police manpower system is unusual, with a limited number of employers and restricted union activity operating within an arbitral environment and subject to close political scrutiny. The typical policeman is a relatively young male. There has been increasing divergence between police requirements and available labor for policing since the mid-1960's. By the end of the 1970's, police wages had increased more than comparative wages, especially for senior force members. Promotion is largely a matter of seniority at the expense of merit. There has been little effort to improve recruit advertising or to upgrade cadet training; instead, more civilian departmental support staff and women have been hired. The 1980 force level is 80 percent higher than in 1964. However, recorded crime rates have increased by more than 300 percent over that period, indicating a serious and increasing relative shortage of police in Australia. No references are cited.