The ACT's Chief Police Officer has admitted the territory's police force needs to boost its numbers in the face of increasing callouts.
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Speaking at an annual reports hearing, Chief Police Officer Justine Saunders said she expected she would ask the ACT government to increase the police force's "core capability" although she could not specify the "quantum, skills and experience" she needed yet.
While crime levels have remained stable in the ACT, there had been an increase in calls to police of 16.7 per cent in the past financial year.
"Obviously that has an impact on our capacity to respond," Chief Police Officer Saunders said.
"Whilst we've seen a 16.7 per cent increase in calls overall, we've seen an increase of 19.2 per cent in priority two calls, which are those matters that generally require a physical response [within 20 minutes] and followup action so of course that takes time.
"We've also seen a 16 per cent increase in priority three matters, which require an ACT Policing response too [within 48 hours].
"That equates to about 130 calls per day which certainly is an increase from 2015-16, which was 111 calls."
The number of new officers needed will be determined by a review that's already under way, looking at what kind of policing model the ACT will need going forward.
However Australian Federal Police Association president Angela Smith said ACT Policing "desperately" required 200 more police officers.
"The fundamental problem facing ACT Policing is the severe lack of front line police," Ms Smith said.
"ACT Policing has 680 police, which equates to 170 per 100,000, the lowest ratio in the country.
"The next lowest is NSW Police at 215 per 100,000. Policing numbers have not kept up with the increase in the ACT population.
"My members are pleading with the AFPA to fight for more police numbers. They are stretched so thin and feel that their own safety and welfare is in a dire situation."
Canberra Liberals police spokeswoman Giulia Jones said she'd spoken to officers on the ground who said it was not just the increase in callouts that was putting pressure on them, but the type.
"[The officer] said to me the time they have to spend with each person is getting longer because now have caseload of domestic violence issues, which means it takes longer visit to someone's home, you need to make sure they're okay, and that they are referred to appropriate services," Mrs Jones said.
"No one would ever say that's a bad thing but it takes more time."
Data from ACT Policing's annual report showed assaults reported in the home increased by 18.9 per cent in the past year, with 44.7 per cent of all assaults reported to ACT Policing related to family violence.
But Chief Police Officer Saunders said while she would welcome more officers, the problem was "complicated".
"[It's] not as simple as throwing sworn police at this issue," she said.
She said she had not asked the government for more baseline funding for officers in the past year but had no doubt she would get the funding if she asked.
