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Metro South Region Roundup
TONY COLLINS
TIME FOR A CHANGE?
With the new, incoming Commissioner, now is the time for organisational change on a level not seen since
we regionalised. The philosophy of this change should be based around whether or not it affects the frontline.
That is the only question needed to be asked of every section and unit of the QPS: if this section or unit was
disbanded or downsized, would it affect the troops on the frontline? Can we as an organisation afford not to
take this opportunity to make a real change as opposed to paying lip service?
One section which is probably feeling
the microscope right about now is
the QPRIME Help desk. Unfortunately
for this section, it is almost entirely
staffed with secondments. However,
they are vital to keeping the
Apparently, it is currently handling
approximately 400 calls for service
a week. That is 400 calls from first
response police who, without QPRIME
help, would be sitting there twiddling
their thumbs, whistling Dixie,
“The only question needed to be asked of every
section and unit of the QPS: if this section or
unit was disbanded or downsized, would it
affect the troops on the frontline?”
monstrosity that is called QPRIME
ticking along.
becoming more and more frustrated in
just trying to do their jobs.
ramifications and significant impact
these new laws will have on our time
and resources.
This process sometimes makes the
new laws unworkable in a practical
sense. I am not advocating a police
state. Nor am I saying that we are
always right.
I am pointing out that the cost in
time and resources does not seem
to factor in these amendments or
new laws. Sometimes, there are just
not enough resources to do the job
properly without impacting on our
core business.
Not only does this section handle
Service Desk Inquiries for QPRIME, but
also ITAS and the new QCAD. QPRIME
Help has transformed itself into an
“Without QPRIME
help, first response
police would be sitting
there twiddling their
thumbs, whistling
Dixie, becoming more
and more frustrated
in just trying to do
their jobs.”
extremely useful unit for first response
police, in assisting with glitches
and mistakes that the training never
provided for.
These 400 calls have helped first
response police get back on the road
where they belong. I would suggest
any decisions affecting the future of
this section will have a considerable
flow-on effect to first response police.
We could always stick that in the next
OPR.
SOUNDS GOOD IN THEORY, BUT IN
PRACTICE?
As practitioners of the law, we
are often consulted regarding
amendments to laws, or about the
introduction of new laws. It is all well
and good to consult us, but sometimes
the process is shanghaied.
Sometimes our recommendations
are watered down by the theoretical
practitioners of the law, the lawyers,
who have their own agenda. Or
sometimes the government of the
day has to fulfil an election promise,
but fails to understand the practical
A balance needs to be struck between
laws that are unrealistic in a practical
“Can we as an
organisation afford
not to take this
opportunity to make
a real change as
opposed to paying
lip service?”
sense, civil rights concerns, and the
needs of the government.
If the Newman government’s hatchet
men are to review the QPS, then
perhaps they should take some time
out of their busy schedules to not
only look at our numbers, but also
at the legislation that fails us as an
organisation. If they want some
Queensland Police Union Journal August 2012 21