Police News May - New Zealand Police Association

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May 2004 Police News The Voice of Policeinadequate, carried out by non-Youth Aidtrained Sergeants. These are all concernsidentified by the Ministerial Taskforceon Youth Offending, and are now in thehands of Police head office.Despite these limitations Police YouthAid boxes above its weight and makesan extraordinary contribution. Indeed,contrary to the predictions prior to thepassing into legislation of the ChildrenYoung Persons and Their Families Act1989 the Youth Aid division has adoptedthe principles of the Act as its own,contributing to some stunning successes.Given the very positive and substantialcontribution of Police Youth Aid, I amsure many of its officers would have beendisappointed by the negative treatmentyou have given to youth justice.Youth Aid officers need the support ofall police officers in encouraging victims,offenders, and the community to play aresponsible part in the system. It wouldbe to the real detriment of youth justice iffrontline police officers were to lose faithin what is being achieved by the system -and might be further achieved - because ofselective examples and very partial argumentof the kind shown in your article.A J BecroftPrincipal Youth Court Judge(Wellington)Editor’s replyThank you for your comments onthe article. It is refreshing to find amember of the judiciary willing toacknowledge the good work of policeofficers in this field and I thank youfor your contribution to this ongoingdebate. Police News contacted ChrisRoper for his comments because he haddecades of experience in this field andit is heartening to see that you agreewith many of his comments. I reportedthe opinions of several officers, whohad legitimate concerns about aspectsof the youth justice system from theirdaily experience. As ‘the Voice of Police’,Police News responded to their concernsby allowing them to express theiropinions through my article. You will beaware that Police regulations preventpolice officers from being directly criticalof specific judicial decisions, but thatin no way makes their opinions lessvalid on these matters. I understandthe Law Commission has maderecommendations to Governmentconcerning how victims are treatedwithin the justice system, followingresearch it conducted with victims andothers who come into contact withthe courts system. Granted, the areaof youth justice is complex - and thearticle acknowledged this, but it alsoemphasised the necessity for agencies towork together, for key interventions tobe put in place at a very early age andfor agencies to have the courage to savechildren from a life of crime by removingthem, permanently if necessary, fromthe dysfunctional, alcohol and drugsoaked environments, which arethe genesis of their offending. In theinterests of fairness and balance, I havepublished your letter in full. - Editor.Time for carefulconsiderationHaving read your article in the latestPolice News, March 2004 entitled“stabbing/slashing attacks on policeofficers”, I feel I must respond to several ofthe points mentioned in the article.You mention that the department’s figuresindicate a 2300% increase in stabbingattacks, which I think, is very unlikely. Thenumber has probably risen but I wouldrefute that it is a total increase, rather that theincidents are becoming more severe and arenow being reported more often. Health andSafety In Employment Act 1992 (Sections19 and 25) requires ALL employees toreport ALL accidents/incidents and nearmisses as their responsibility under theAct. If reporting and investigating wereencouraged both by the Associationand management, especially in relationto GDBs (General Duties Branch), thenthere would be more accurate figures tosupport the implementation of preventionstrategies, which may include vests.Police culture is a big issue at presentand the “voluntary servitude” attitude iscertainly prevalent as part of that culturewhen it comes to safety. Many officerswould agree that “I am going to serve theNZ public and getting hurt comes withthe territory” rather than thinking that “Iam going to keep myself as safe and fit aspossible so I can help as many as possible”.Getting hurt doesn’t have to come with theterritory. Reporting accidents, in order thatsome other officer doesn’t have to get hurt, ispart of that change.I agree, wholeheartedly, that the PoliceDepartment has an obligation underthe HSE Act 92 (Section 6) to take “allpracticable steps” to protect it’s stafffrom hazards. However, following a taskanalysis (under section 10), it might bethat the best option is covert vests and ifso it is then the employee’s responsibilityto wear the required protective equipment.It would be mandatory, not optional.If you talk to some of the English copshere in Auckland, you will find that theirexperience with covert vests is not all thatgood. They say the vests are uncomfortableespecially when sitting in vehicles etc.Therefore, serious discussion has to beundertaken on this topic. It is also veryrare that following a task analyses thatonly one protective option is implementedbut rather a number of strategies areneeded, so we need to ask the questionswhat are they and how practical are they?I would be very surprised if cost is the realissue. A cost analysis of the 48 stabbingswould most probably show that vestswould pay for themselves in a very shortperiod of time.The new amendments to the HSE Actencourages the involvement of staffa lot more and gives them a lot moreresponsibility. I hope that the Associationwill work with members to turn theattitude to safety around and make the joba lot safer for all.Irene Allen, Staff Safety Officer(North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney PoliceDistrict)Thanks for your letter. The figure of a2300% increase in stabbing/slashingattacks is correct. It comes from thePolice’s own documents. This issuecontains an update on a trial of bodyarmour, which Police are about toundertake. Rest assured that seriousdiscussion is taking place on this issue,both within Police and within the PoliceAssociation - and jointly. - Editor.Media damageIt has been sometime since I called myselfa member of Police, it has been about thesame time since I entered a Police station,and although a few friendships survive,very few police officers are part of my lifeanymore. I keep in touch through PoliceNews and, unfortunately, the newspaper.The damage that media comment withits irresponsible, unresearched andunbalanced information has caused,is clear for all to see. The increasinglyfrequent scathing attacks on your ownranks through the letters in Police Newscontribute even further to undermine thevalued role that you all perform.I write only as an observation, in thatwriting a letter to the Editor does notform part of a solution. I believe itfrequently does more harm than good andpotentially fuels the belief that stating anopinion makes it a fact.Putting pen to paper is the last solution.I believe you should exhaust allopportunities to address the issues thatyou are confronted with in a mannerthat respects the privacy of individuals,the dignity of the Police and seeks toachieve realistic resolutions. Especially inthis environment, at this time, where thePolice are under such incredible scrutiny,professionalism is crucial to maintainingthe respect and value that the majority ofsociety affords the Police.In saying that pen to paper is the lastresort, I forward a copy of a letter Isubmitted to the New Zealand Herald.86
New Zealand Police AssociationMay 2004It may not see the light of day but in avain attempt at expressing my support Itook the opportunity to try to voice somebalance. No longer being a member ofthe Police has given me the opportunityto interact with a broad range of peoplecompletely outside that environment.The views I express are not mine alone orthose of ex-members of Police but a largesection of society, who continue to supportand respect the New Zealand Police.For the record here’s my letter to the NZHerald:“Let us not forget the job we are asking ourpolice officers to undertake everyday. In anycriticism of the New Zealand Police be awareof the damage caused to the reputation ofthe inspirational men and women who areconfronting levels of violence and abuse thathave not previously been experienced in thiscountry. When information is provided as acommentary on the current situation withinPolice, balance this with who is providingthe information and what their motivationis for doing so. The injury and even deathof police officers has not stopped these menand women continuing to do their job. Thethankless task of dealing with people at theirmost violent, distressed and irrational doesnot afford much gratitude. Be cautious thatthe end result of the allegations does not endup damaging the people who need our supportand empowers those who will be fuelled byany opportunity to attack the Police. Whentalking about historical matters, rememberthat the frontline police officers dealing withthe worst elements of society are the only oneswho will be forced to confront the abuse andcriticism. The matters of history can be dealtwith, investigated and addressed and whilethis is being done remember those who put onthe uniform everyday and do the very best jobthey can in the very worst of circumstances.Don’t, as a society, deprive them of thefundamental respect they deserve throughwearing that uniform, just because there isa possibility that some individuals did notconduct themselves in a manner that deservesthat respect. When I tuck my children into bedand turn out the lights at night I still rest easythat there are those men and women who areprepared to respond when I call.”Casey Costello(Papakura)Promotions - there may bea better wayI wish to voice my concerns on how wecurrently promote members within ourorganisation. It’s my understanding thatthe decision is made solely on the CVthe member submits when they applyfor a job. After scoring the CVs they mayinterview the top ones, but that’s it.I am not currently applying for any jobsand don’t intend to in the rear futurebut one day I might and feel the currentsystem doesn’t necessarily promote thebest person for the job.We all know of people who have gotjobs over others even though they were‘lightweight’ and others, who wereexcellent cops and had great peopleskills, missed out because they didn’twrite themselves up well enough. Somepeople make a career out of adding thingsto their CVs by attending every coursethey can and doing everything apart fromdoing what I believe is our core business- locking up and prosecuting criminals.Of course, in the current system, goodmembers still get promoted but there aresome getting through that just aren’t upto it.I suggest a three-part process with eachCorrection to golf resultshaving equal weighting as follows:1. Submit a CV as we do at present.2. Interview everybody (within reason)who applies.3. Spend time reviewing the applicant’spersonal file and interviewing say threeor four past supervisors to find outwhat the member is like. This couldbe a confidential interview so thesupervisors can be completely honest.I accept that this process would be moretime consuming and expensive but I feelit would be money and time well spentto get the right members in supervisorypositions because getting it wrong canhave disastrous results.Rob Hanna(Dunedin)NZ Police Council of Sport2004 CALENDAR OF EVENTSFor more information regarding any of these events, or including otherPolice national sporting events, contact: Alison Murray, NZ PoliceCouncil of Sport (04) 238 3139; email councilofsport@xtra.co.nzMAY 20045 NZ Police Cross-country Championships - WanganuiContact: Mark Chillingworth, Wanganui on ext 65046JUNE 200412 Basketball vs Defence (NZ trials)Contact: Gordi Meyers extn: 37940SEPTEMBER 200416/17 NZ Police Snowboard Champs - CardronaContact: Ian Tuke extn: 95768NOVEMBER 200421-26 Police Cricket - Australasian Police Cricket ChampionshipContact: Paul Johannsen extn: 37940 orGeoffrey Ringer extn: 95789In last month’s issue we ran the Police Golf Championship results butunfortunately we were supplied with the wrong information regarding theBest Nett and Junior Nett winners. Evidently these results were transposedand should have read: Best Nett - K J Murphy; Junior Nett - ShaneMcNally.Memorial WallOur sympathies to all our members’ families forthose who have passed away in recent months...We remember… Who passed away…VANDER WALT Sidney 26-Nov-03 Retired member WellingtonTOHILL Yvonne Maree 18-Feb-04 Retired non-sworn member WellingtonBEASLEY Patricia Dorothy 30-Mar-04 Spouse of retired associate member AucklandCULLEN Bruce Edward 31-Mar-04 Retired sworn member AucklandBELCHER Catherine 14-Apr-04 Widow of sworn member Tauranga87
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