Queensland Police Union Journal

Metro South Region Roundup
TONY COLLINS
THE NEW WORLD ORDER
As some are calling it, the ‘New World Order’ is upon the QPS, but the reality of it all is that very little has
changed. Some Regions have been disbanded and then rebranded as Districts. Policelink is still a millstone
around our necks. The funding for mobile data has to come from our internal budget rather than Treasury. New
school-based officers are being employed without radio and vehicle allocations; they are having to drive their
own cars to schools and to beg or borrow radios. However, there are still calls for service and the sun will rise
tomorrow.
While the bosses we report to have
changed, little else has. As I have said
previously, Stage 1 was going to have
very limited effect on most members. I
now await Stage 2 and 3, as these may
be vastly different. Unfortunately, due
to the distinct lack of information, only
time will tell.
One member put the restructure to
me in terms of movie-making: ‘If the
restructure of the QPS was a movie,
then the disclaimer at the end would
be that no Assistant Commissioner or
Chief Superintendent was hurt in the
making of this movie.’
While the Commissioner is an
obvious social media fan, you need
to be careful of what you put online.
Because the QPS still does not have a
social media policy, this area is very
grey as to what you will get in trouble
for and what you won’t. So be careful.
UNION ASSISTANCE
Believe it or not, folks, if you are a
member of the Union, then seeking
advice from the Union is free. I
still shake my head when I hear
of people still having quick chats
about complaint files without Union
assistance.
we are here to help you. Please feel
free to ask for help when you need it,
or, more importantly, even if you are
just unsure.
WANTED
1) Polo shirts for first response police.
2) Third car for Annerley station
3) New pursuit policy
4) Social media policy
Tony COLLINS
Regional Representative
Metropolitan South Region
0414 804 472
‘If the restructure of the QPS was a movie,
then the disclaimer at the end would be
that no Assistant Commissioner or Chief
Superintendent was hurt in the making of this
movie.’
FACEBOOK
Folks, I repeat myself at least once
a year with this message. If you are
on Facebook, be sure of who you are
friends with. If you don’t know some
of your hundreds of friends, then
perhaps it is time for a cull.
Remember that anything you put
on Facebook is there forever. Don’t
post anything about work, don’t put
photographs of yourself in uniform
online, and don’t ‘like’ anything that
may come back to bite you.
Reports in relation to speed cameras
and red light camera tickets should not
be submitted with the disclaimer in the
first paragraph.
Why? Because if they do decide to
proceed with the ticket, and you wish
to defend it, then your report is Exhibit
A, especially if there is an admission of
guilt relating to the speed or red light.
I would prefer a five minute phone call
to a forty minute interview. You pay
good money to be in the Union, and
Queensland Police Union Journal June 2013 17