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Northern Region Roundup
After discussing this issue with a
trainer, I was informed that the general
consensus from course participants
was that most respondents will be
detained and taken back to the station
or Watchhouse and released on
conditions.
in most instances have identified
security issues.
These issues have been previously
raised in my articles, yet we still
have this type of vehicle allocated for
policing.
“Streamline the entire administration and
reporting process, and let us get back to our
core business of detecting and preventing crime
and protecting life and property.”
struggling, and is taken to the ground
and handcuffed, they are going to end
up with sore wrists and a possible
graze to the forehead.
Why is this being investigated as an
injury in custody, and then further
investigated when the offender
makes a formal complaint?
These are POST-approved tactics
and should be a tick and flick by the
supervising Sergeant or Watchhouse
Sergeant when the prisoner is lodged.
This is because of four main reasons:
1) Standing outside a residence at
2am completing documentation has
inherent dangers in some areas we
police, and also further escalates
the DV situation. 2) The concept
of duplicitous reporting is time
consuming and unnecessary. 3) The
information relied on for the order
is completed roadside and is limited
to the space provided. 4) Haste can
often cause grammatical errors and
limited information for the application
process.
I cannot understand why the
information for the application is
not similar to the information that
is provided on a Notice to Appear:
‘That on the 7th day of July 2102,
you committed an act of domestic
violence, namely ...’
Streamline the entire administration
and reporting process, and let us get
back to our core business of detecting
and preventing crime and protecting
life and property.
5. PASS ALL PRISONER TRANSFERS
BACK TO THE RESPONSIBLE
AGENCIES
At the moment, we are nothing
more than highly skilled taxi drivers
performing the role of correctional
service officers. Corrective services
have vehicles specifically designed
for transportation and transfer of
prisoners in a secure manner.
It amazes me that general duties
police officers are required to transfer
high risk prisoners in sedans that
It further amazes and infuriates
me that our members are often
required to transfer prisoners for
long distances (eg. Mount Isa to
Townsville, which is 900 kilometres).
This situation not only places the
officers in a high risk position, but
also threatens the prisoners’ health.
“Finally, we have
a Premier and
Police Minister
who understand
that policing is a
demanding job unlike
any other.”
If you are serious about law and
order, get us back on the road
detecting and preventing crime, not
performing the role of a corrective
service officer.
6. FIX THE BROKEN DISCIPLINE
PROCESS
The delayed and antiquated process
needs a massive overhaul. As any
of our Regional Representatives
and branch officials would attest,
the number of interviews being
conducted is out of control. As
a Service, we have become so
internally focussed that we have lost
sight of the real picture.
The ESC, CMC, and our senior
management have lost touch with
reality, and they fail to remember
that if an offender is violent and
The delays in the process and the
manner in which officers are treated
cause nothing more than anxiety,
stress, and ultimately poor morale.
7. FIX THE REPORTING AND
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS
The days of three or four drink
drivers, a criminal arrest, and then
time for some proactive patrolling
have long gone.
I recall setting a challenge in my
April article for members of the
senior executive: Here is a challenge
for any commissioned officer at the
rank of Superintendent or above: in
a training environment in QPRIME,
arrest an offender and process them
on multiple burglary charges, throw
in a DV breach and a fail to appear
warrant, and complete the charge
processing. This is a combination
of offences that are not too out of
the ordinary. Only then will you
understand the complexities of the
QPRIME system, and the frustration
experienced by operational officers.
“At the moment, we
are nothing more than
highly skilled taxi
drivers performing the
role of correctional
service officers.”
I now also add to this that the
offender was not compliant, a
struggle ensued, and the offender
sustained minor injuries during the
arrest. As the arresting officer, you
Queensland Police Union Journal August 2012 15