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Police and Firefighting Services in Australia - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Levi Duane-Davis Levi Duane-Davis Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: October 2023 ANZSIC O7710

Revenue

$25.8bn

2023-24

$25.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

101k

Businesses

33

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Police and Firefighting Services in Australia industry analysis

The Police and Firefighting Services industry is vital to Australia's security and emergency response capabilities. Each state and territory is predominantly responsible for operating its own police and firefighting services. Although industry revenue mainly comes from government funding, donations, direct user charges, fines and insurance companies also contribute. Steady population growth has increased demand for police and fire services over the past few years, supporting higher industry funding. Incidences of rising cybercrime and concerns over community safety have also supported demand for state and federal police services. Moreover, a rising number and severity of bushfires has pushed up demand for regional and metropolitan fire services. As a result, industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualised 1.9% over the five years through 2023-24, to total $25.8 billion. This trend includes an anticipated increase of 0.8% in the current year, with steady government funding contributing to demand growth.

Trends and Insights

  • Australia's growing population has aided demand for police and firefighting services. The population has grown steadily over the past few years, supporting greater government funding for emergency services.
  • A growing population has driven up demand for state and territory police services. These services involve all police and support staff engaged in preventing and detecting crime on a state and territory level.
  • Services are located along the lines of population distribution. New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland account for almost 70% of industry revenue in 2023-24.
  • Restricted government funding and jurisdictional overlap has kept market share concentration moderate. The four largest organisations account for 58.2% of industry revenue in 2023-24.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $25.8bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

A growing population has aided in demand growth

  • Many factors affect demand for police and firefighting services. However, industry demand tends to mainly follow population growth.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Police and Firefighting Services in Australia
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Growing crime rates are expected to raise government funding for police services

  • Crime rates are forecast to increase over the next few years, due to difficult economic conditions and a growing population. This is projected to support greater government funding for police services to maintain law and order.

Biggest companies in the Police and Firefighting Services in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
VIC Police
4,713.3
NSW Police Force
4,689.7
Fire Rescue Victoria
3,413.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 9 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Police and Firefighting Services in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including State and territory police services, Australian Federal Police services and Intelligence services. State and territory police services is the largest segment of the Police and Firefighting Services in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Demand has risen for state and territory police services as the population grows

  • State and territory police account for all police and support staff engaged in the prevention and detection of crime and maintenance of public order on a state and territory level.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry organisations provide services that maintain public order and safety, and emergency fire and rescue services. The industry comprises police services (including federal agencies), and metropolitan and country fire brigades.

What's included in this industry?

State and territory police services Firefighting servicesFedal police servicesIntelligence services

Companies

VIC PoliceNSW Police ForceFire Rescue Victoria

Purchase this report to view all 9 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE (AFP)AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATIONCYBERCRIME

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 7711 - Police and Firefighting Services in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Australia's growing population has aided demand for police and firefighting services. The population has grown steadily over the past few years, supporting greater government...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

A growing population has driven up demand for state and territory police services. These services involve all police and support staff engaged in preventing and detecting cri...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Services are located along the lines of population distribution. New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland account for almost 70% of industry revenue in 2023-24.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Restricted government funding and jurisdictional overlap has kept market share concentration moderate. The four largest organisations account for 58.2% of industry revenue in...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The New South Wales Police Force remains the country's largest police or firefighting service. Most of the organisation's revenue is generated through government contribution...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
  • Overview of VIC Police's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of NSW Police Force's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Fire Rescue Victoria's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 6 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for VIC Police, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for NSW Police Force, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Fire Rescue Victoria, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 6 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Police and Firefighting Services industry is highly regulated. Each service has a range of legislation that governs its ability to undertake its day-to-day activities.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry is largely government-funded and has no profit motive. As a result, although some units operate at a surplus in any given year, profit does not exist in the indu...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Average Wage (2013-2028)
  • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
  • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2013-2028)
  • IVA (2013-2028)
  • Establishments (2013-2028)
  • Enterprises (2013-2028)
  • Employment (2013-2028)
  • Exports (2013-2028)
  • Imports (2013-2028)
  • Wages (2013-2028)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Police and Firefighting Services industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Police and Firefighting Services industry in Australia is $25.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Police and Firefighting Services in Australia industry in 2023?

There are 33 businesses in the Police and Firefighting Services industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2018 and 2023.

Has the Police and Firefighting Services industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Police and Firefighting Services industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2018 and 2023.

What is the forecast growth of the Police and Firefighting Services industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Police and Firefighting Services industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Police and Firefighting Services market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Police and Firefighting Services market in Australia are VIC Police, NSW Police Force and Fire Rescue Victoria

What does the Police and Firefighting Services in Australia include?

State and territory police services and Firefighting services are part of the Police and Firefighting Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Police and Firefighting Services in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is VIC Police.

How competitive is the Police and Firefighting Services industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Police and Firefighting Services industry in Australia.

Related Industries

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Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.