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Metro North Region Roundup
SHAYNE MAXWELL
SAFE HAVEN FOR CRIMINALS
With the current pursuit policy, have we created a safe haven for criminals. We have enabled them to commit
burglaries and drive away without a fear in the world. Because newer vehicles are harder to break into, crims
have started committing burglaries in order to steal keys to then steal vehicles. More often than not, high
powered vehicles are targeted, and once in the vehicle, these crims simply ignore the blue light and siren. They
are home free.
It is no surprise, then, that the safe
haven we have created has led to an
increase in the unlawful use of motor
vehicles. Since the introduction of the
pursuit policy, evade police incidents
have dramatically increased by 100%,
and even up to nearly 150% in some
Districts.
Recently, a stolen vehicle was sighted
on a number of occasions in two
different Regions, and six different
divisions. On each occasion that the
vehicle was sighted and the pursuit
terminated, police had to stop and
notify Comco for the DDO to attend
and inspect the police vehicle.
on the side of the road, we also have
to then wait for Policelink to enter an
evade police on QPrime.
We hear stories nearly every day in
the media about the increase of ram
raids in the metropolitan areas, and
criminals evading police by blocking
the road, driving on the wrong side,
using excessive speed, running red
lights, and throwing objects out of
vehicles.
ANNA OUT, LNP IN.
Campbell Newman and the LNP have
now been in government for 100 days,
and a lot has been made of the budget
cutbacks required to get our state back
on track.
To date, I have not heard of any official
budget cuts to the QPS. I have heard
rumours of cutbacks of 5-10%, the
further reduction of AOs, and the
flattening of ranks.
“More often than not, high powered vehicles are
targeted, and once in the vehicle, these crims
simply ignore the blue light and siren.”
“Since the introduction
of the pursuit policy,
evade police incidents
have dramatically
increased by 100%.”
We know the LNP are looking for costsaving
measures from all government
departments, and I hear we are
expected to lose more AOs and face
significant cuts to the budget. So as
an organisation, how can we condone
wasting valuable resources as our
officers sit on the side of the road?
There is an expectation that members
will try and intercept a stolen vehicle,
get enough information to identify it,
and then record it as an evade police
incident. So we are not only sitting
How many evades are the police
dealing with each shift? How many
times do they intercept a vehicle that
turns out to be stolen? Sometimes,
while trying to intercept, they are
informed to stop the pursuit, pull over,
and wait for the DDO to arrive and
inspect the vehicle.
This leaves 20-30 minutes idle.
Police are becoming more and more
frustrated each shift, knowing that at
some time during the shift, they will
be sitting idle on the side of the road.
I understand that the QPS has listened
to the concerns of the Union regarding
the deployment of stingers during
pursuits. By the time this article
appears, there should be a new policy
for stingers which will allow them to
be used outside the pursuit policy.
I have recently read the Queensland
government’s six month action plan,
covering July to December this year.
The LNP have undertaken to deliver
the following to the QPS in the next six
months:
• More school and community
based police
• Amendments to the Weapons Act
to include tougher sentences for
offences such as possession and
trafficking firearms
• Improved GPS tracking for
dangerous sex offenders
• The introduction of tough, new
anti-hooning laws.
• Crime fighting resources in Cairns,
Townsville, and the Gold Coast
to focus on juvenile crime and
alcohol management
Queensland Police Union Journal August 2012 7