Bid to probe SA police cuts voted down

The South Australian Labor government has voted down an opposition proposal for a parliamentary committee to examine proposed savings and operational changes to the state's police force.

The Liberals wanted a select committee to examine plans to have civilians perform some duties currently undertaken by police officers, along with other government proposals to save cash.

Police spokesman Dan van Holst Pellekaan said the committee could also have examined the government's progress on its election commitment to recruit an extra 313 police officers by June 2018.

But he said the proposal was voted down by the government on Wednesday.

"The fact that the Labor Government voted to not have an inquiry shows just how much they have to hide about cuts to the police budget," Mr van Holst Pellekaan said.