Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s father John died on Wednesday night, 22nd January 2020, aged 84 following a battle with illness. Continue reading NSW Police Chief Inspector John Douglas Morrison OAM dies
Australian Defence Force Veteran barred from joining WA Police Force over neck tattoo
An ADF veteran is calling for WA Police tattoo policy reforms after his application to join the force was turned down because of a “Lest We Forget” tattoo on his neck, The West Australian reports.
Ryan Banting had the Anzac homage tattooed on the right side of his neck after serving six years in the Australian Defence Force and a further four years as a reservist.
He said the tattoo reminded him and those around him to be grateful for the freedom they had and he was upset to hear it was that very sign of respect that would prevent him from progressing with the recruitment process.
Mr Banting said he was disappointed his hopes of joining the police, an endeavour he had been considering for several years, had been crushed.
“If you go on the (WA Police) website to apply there’s nothing on there that states if you have tattoos, don’t apply,” he said.
In 2015, The West Australian reported that all visible tattoos would be banned in a new policy. Section 11 of the recruitment application specifically asks for a list of tattoos, but does not specify what tattoos are allowed. “The latest iteration of the WA Police Body Art and Modifications policy was introduced in April 2015 as a result of the increasing prevalence of tattoos and other body modifications in the community,” a WA Police spokesman said. Source: https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/tatts-a-disgrace-former-digger-barred-from-joining-wa-police-over-neck-tattoo-ng-b881148781z
In 2015, The West Australian reported that all visible tattoos would be banned in a new policy. Section 11 of the recruitment application specifically asks for a list of tattoos, but does not specify what tattoos are allowed. “The latest iteration of the WA Police Body Art and Modifications policy was introduced in April 2015 as a result of the increasing prevalence of tattoos and other body modifications in the community,” a WA Police spokesman said. Source: https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/tatts-a-disgrace-former-digger-barred-from-joining-wa-police-over-neck-tattoo-ng-b881148781z
The policeman who died from stress
The following is an article printed in the New Idea magazine in 1989. The article is as relevant today as it was then, showing the struggles and sacrifices of police officers and their spouses and the terrible toll of the job. It shows that little has changed in the past 30 years when it comes to mental health in policing. The article was published after the suicide of NSW Police Force Sergeant Roy Arthur Allan. Sergeant Roy Allan died in July of 1987 after ingesting hydrochloric acid.
Australia, New Zealand and Pasifika Police Remembrance Day 2018
We pause to remember police officers who were killed in the line of duty or died as a result of their duties. We remember and acknowledge their ultimate sacrifice. Continue reading Australia, New Zealand and Pasifika Police Remembrance Day 2018
Police Officers Receive Australian Bravery Decorations
The officers are among 62 Australians honoured in the latest national bravery awards announced by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on Monday, 20th August 2018.
Sir Peter Cosgrove, who approves the awards, said Australia as a community was fortunate to have so many outstanding people willing to put themselves in harm’s way to assist others.
“These awards have drawn national attention to the personal efforts of individuals made willingly, without thought of personal risk,” he said.
Continue reading Police Officers Receive Australian Bravery Decorations
Australian police to access US-based cloud data under a new reciprocal arrangement, government moves classified data to the cloud
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Australian government is pushing for a deal with Washington that would allow Australian police to take a warrant directly to US tech companies and quickly access a suspect’s data.
The arrangement could help Australian authorities get around the problem of accessing encrypted communications. While companies such as Apple cannot themselves always unlock data on their products such as iPhones, they are more easily able to decrypt data on cloud backups.
Australian police requests for data from US companies are usually rejected because of legal complications in the US regarding warrants for the cloud data. It is understood that the new agreement could overcome that obstacle.
Fairfax Media understands Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Minister Angus Taylor will visit the US in the next fortnight and will express Australia’s eagerness to strike an agreement as soon as possible to allow each country’s law enforcement agencies to more easily access data held in computer “cloud” on each other’s soil.
A “cloud” is a group of networked elements such as computers, storage, software, and services hosted at geographically diverse locations allowing users to connect to it from anywhere. Cloud computing has been rapidly displacing traditional business-owned infrastructure, such as servers, backup devices, etc. Although, some companies may still prefer to use standard storage devices, like an SSD, (find out more here about how any lost data can be restored), to manage their documents. But in recent years, the Cloud has become significantly popular.
The talks follow the recent passage of a law by the US Congress that enables American agencies such as the FBI to demand – with a warrant – access to data from US-based tech companies even if the companies are holding that data in overseas cloud services – a situation that is increasingly common.
As part of the new CLOUD Act, the Trump administration can sign individual agreements with other countries to make the arrangement reciprocal. Britain is reportedly the first country in line with the new rules but Fairfax Media understands Australia hopes to be among the next few.
Government data moving to the cloud
Last week, Angus Taylor announced that data created and held by Australian federal government will be moved to the cloud. The data will be hosted by Microsoft in Australian data centres, subcontracting the company Canberra Data Centres for the storage.
Microsoft’s Azure cloud services have received the green light to store federal government data classified at the Protected level.
The government’s announcement “makes Microsoft the first, the only, global cloud provider to have been awarded Protected certification,” said Microsoft Australia’s Azure engineering lead, James Kavanagh.
Protected data is data that if its security is compromised it would have an impact on Australia’s national security and can include a range of Defence and public safety data. Microsoft already had a range of Azure services certified for use with unclassified but sensitive data. The company estimates that, combined, unclassified and Protected covers 85 to 90 per cent of government data.
United Nations & Overseas Policing Association of Australia statement in relation to Barry Urban MP – Member for Darling Range
UNOPAA statement in relation to Barry Urban MP – Member for
Darling Range.
Now that Mr Barry Urban MP has delivered his address to the Western Australian Parliament on the last day at Parliament sitting. The UNOPAA wish to respond to Mr Urban’s claims and comments.
Spotlight on organisational culture and police mental health (part 1)
In these series of articles, we are taking a close look at the issues plaguing the police agencies in Australia. The people and policies that maintain the status quo at and the ugly stranglehold of mental health stigma. Being in the police is a very stressful job so it’s understandable that these pressures get to officers. However, due to the stigma around mental health, only some officers are getting help through products like CBD (visit https://revitaoil.com/ for more information) and through counseling. Everyone reacts differently to the pressures of the job so it’s important to have a system that is flexible for whoever needs help, whichever way they want it. Note: parts of this article may be distressing to some readers.
Continue reading Spotlight on organisational culture and police mental health (part 1)
Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ 40th Annual Memorial Service
Sunday, September 24, is Police and Peace Officers National Memorial Day and men and women who serve or have served their communities in Canada, will honour officers who have given their lives in service to the community.
Continue reading Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ 40th Annual Memorial Service
Sergeant Marina Gyfteas presented with the Breavington Award
Victoria Police Sergeant Marina Gyfteas is one of the most respected police officers in Melbourne’s north and while she has had many achievements over the years, she dislikes the fuss around the recognition, shrugging it off with ‘it’s what I’m paid to do, no big deal’. However, her friends and colleagues say that the award was thoroughly deserved and long overdue. Continue reading Sergeant Marina Gyfteas presented with the Breavington Award