General Secretary's - Queensland Police Union

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4 • Metro South Region TONY COLLINS Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson has signed for another three years and has decided to lead with his chin declaring he would not have considered extending his term if he did not have the support of his officers. When the Commissioner took over in 2000 it was good to see that the government had completely put to bed the idea that anyone other than a Queensland police officer was able to run the QPS - especially after the Noel Newnham experiment. I even thought the Commissioner had a good sense of humour when he introduced his 4 P’s as a twist on the old 3 P’s known to all and sundry as to what could and would get you in trouble. But it is time to look back over the past ten years and see what our Commissioner has achieved. VEHICLES Police vehicles are the same as ten years ago just different models but the cage cars now are not even really cage cars anymore due to the airbags. We had maverick units back then and we have them now. What we don’t have is onboard computers or cameras, so no real achievement there. We don’t have Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems, even though by my count we trialled it a number of years ago and it was quite successful in intercepting a large number of vehicles. This system was not introduced, so no real achievement there. PAPERWORK Since we have become the statistics collector for every other government agency except for ourselves, we are now asking more inane questions about information that is irrelevant. It is always a pleasure to ask these questions because we don’t have anything better to do. We are not paperless yet and as such, still cut down half of a Peruvian rainforest just to do our job. How long ago did the Brisbane City Council introduce electronic ticketing and what are we still using? We have QPRIME. This much loved and adored computer system is so incredibly easy to use and navigate that in a previous article I detailed how much time we lose by using it. Reported crime takes longer to put on and simple arrests such as drink drivers now take twice as long as it did ten years ago. So whilst a lot of computer systems have been merged into one, there is no time saving. Again, no real achievement. Queensland Police Union Journal Apr 10 EQUIPMENT The only real improvement to equipment across the QPS has been the Taser. We can’t really call this the Commissioner’s achievement because this was an agreement made between the QPUE and the government without the Commissioner’s input. Our radios are still the super light-weight Motorolas that don’t affect your hips or lower back and we still only have one inquiry channel for an entire region, so there is no wait time for a name check. However, we do have a digital radio network so no one can overhear us waiting fourth in queue. UNIFORM Now here we have some real achievements. Operational trousers have been introduced; sunglasses are on issue, and we have baseball caps that don’t come off your head when a truck goes past. Last but not least, we no longer have to wear ties in winter - even though it took about five years for the tie trial to finish. Whilst there have been great achievements, I get the feeling the Commissioner is attempting to turn back the clock in relation to the operational trousers. People who predominantly work in offices are being ordered to wear the dress trousers. You know what? The public of Queensland can’t tell the difference between our operational uniform and dress uniform and really don’t care what we wear as long as we respond to their calls for service in a timely manner. As long as you are not wearing white Dunlop Volleys you won’t draw attention to yourself. Quite frankly if the public don’t raise it then we should not be bothered with it. Besides, don’t we have 8,500 operational police in Queensland? I can only write about what I know and I know that whilst we have some real achievements in the scientific areas, computer forensics and our child abuse unit has a worldwide reputation for its work on paedophiles, we are still marking time when it comes to the frontline policing. So whilst there have been achievements in specialised areas, if real advancements were made in frontline policing would there not be a flow on effect throughout the rest of the service? Is that not a real achievement? I hope for the next three years our Commissioner concentrates on what is truly important to the service. I hope for all our sakes, that his legacy and achievements for the service will be more than QPRIME and a new uniform. Remember if you have any problems I am a phone call away. Tony COLLINS Union Representative Metropolitan South Region 0414 804 472
Queensland Police Union Journal Apr 10 North Coast Region • 5 Des Hansson When will the government get serious about attacking organised crime? I note they have just given the CMC $14 million dollars over five years for ‘telecommunication interception’. Whilst the rest of the world gives police, who have the major role in fighting crime, phone tapping powers; our government hamstrings police in that role by denying them proper funding and resources. You would think after all the dramas of ‘Capri’ and alleged problems with police having to wheel and deal with criminals to get information that tapping phones and computers would be a logical step towards reducing those associated problems. Instead the government waste money and under utilize powers expanding another little empire within the CMC - the ‘Electronic Collections Unit’ - which has no proven track record of knocking over any organised crime. Here is a message to the government: go out and get an old copy of the DVD “Underbelly” and see how police effectively used phone tapping powers ten years ago to attack organised crime. Coordinators, DVLO’s, Liquor Licensing, and Traffic Branch Coordinators? How many are relieving up a rank to inspector, senior sergeant or sergeant? Why hasn’t the Commissioner stood up and spoken for all us general duties police who are the first section drained should any other area need propping up? When are we going to get a good leader instead of a manager? Get real. We need more cops and we want them now! THANKS I know we all lead busy lives with family and work commitments but I can offer no excuse for not recently thanking our hard-working branch officials. They are the unsung heroes of the union. They do a stack of great work, a lot of it in their own time, answer a lot of queries from members and often bear the brunt of any criticisms of the union. Does the phrase ‘what’s the union doing about it’ ring a bell? Anyway, many thanks to all our branch officials both past and present. Keep up the great work. Be careful out there. Des Hansson North Coast Regional Representative 0412 707 434 RECRUITING CUTS I note that recruiting is down almost 50% from last year. No doubt to recoup money that the government has squandered elsewhere. Our own leaders claim we are a couple of hundred over strength and can therefore cut back recruitment. What a load of b/s. Try telling that to the lone cop going to a domestic because there is little or no relief provided to one and two man stations. Tell it to the two-car crews that turn up at a brawl involving ten or twenty dropkicks who are high on drugs and alcohol. Tell it to the thousands of extra police that have to work on Australia Day putting up with idiots who think it’s an Aussie tradition to belt a cop and get locked up. Tell it to the coppers that are working seven consecutive night shifts every three weeks. Yeah I know, ‘on paper’ it appears there are plenty of police. But have a closer look at the roster. How many are on sick, maternity, military, long service, annual, study, union or any other type of leave? How many are attending OST, Firearms, Taser, and FYC, CDP or the multitude of other courses? How many are relieving at the CIB, TCS, CPIU, or as Tow Truck
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General Secretary's - Queensland Police Union

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