A single strand of hair that destroyed the life of a long-serving Sydney police officer has the potential to influence the future of not just the entire NSW Police Force but all workplaces across NSW.
Continue reading NSW Police ignored expert advice about hair sample and sacked drug-tested officer
A total of 131 new probationary constables were sworn into the NSW Police Force this morning.
The students of “Class 325” of the Associate Degree in Policing Practice attested at the NSW Police Academy at Goulburn today, Friday August 21.
The Commissioner was joined by the Governor of NSW, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), to inspect the new recruits on the parade ground.
Continue reading Welcome to the NSW Police Force: 131 Probationary Constables Sworn In
The Queensland Police Union has lambasted the state government over their “behind closed doors” reappointment of police commissioner Ian Stewart.
Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller extended Commissioner Ian Stewart’s three-year tenure for two more years on Tuesday, following months of union criticism of the state’s top officer.
Unlike all other department directors-general, the Labor government didn’t re-advertise the commissioner’s role and Mr Stewart did not reapply for his job under the new merit-based appointment process.
Read more in The Age.
Ron Iddles, the president of The Police Association Victoria writes in his brief to members:
With police resources stretched to the limit and our state’s population soaring at a rapid rate, our members are working more unsociable hours and weekends than ever before sacrificing all-important family, leisure and recreation time.
Most emergency services around the country, including other policing jurisdictions outside of Victoria, place a premium on working unsociable hours by paying fair penalty rates to employees. Police and PSO members in Victoria are the notable exception.
This is the reason why The Police Association’s EB log of claims seeks to address this obvious gap.
The state government and police command need to appreciate that unsociable work comes at a price and the time has come in Victoria to pay our members fair penalty rates. Weekends are still highly valued by all workers. This is still when weddings and other social events occur, and when children aren’t at school. Police do not get to pick and choose when they work; instead they are expected to turn up 24/7 to ensure the community is safe.
It follows that given that they miss out on many social events, weekends and even the enjoyment of special occasions like Christmas and Easter there should be reasonable compensation for their attendance at work during these times.
Our members are out there working hard to safeguard the community yet they get short-changed when it comes to the payment of fair penalty rates. That is why in the current round of EBA negotiations the Association is pushing for significant improvements to these rates.
Read the full TPAV brief.
Now the Queensland Police Commissioner is set to extend his time under the Palaszczuk Government as it tries to refocus its police agenda on organised crime.
The Courier-Mail has been told Stewart’s contract, ending in late October, will be renewed – most likely for another two years – but so far the Government has refused to publicly commit to any extension.
While Stewart may be the front runner, other names bandied around include Deputy Commissioners Ross Barnett, Brett Pointing, and Steve Gollschewski and Assistant Commissioners Bob Gee and Katarina Carroll.
Carroll, currently the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner, was widely praised for her handling of the police response at the G20 Summit in Brisbane last year.
Read more in Courier Mail.
Hundreds of police are quitting every year to take on jobs in the mines, occupational health and safety, security and other emergency services, with reasons including they feel underpaid.
Almost 1150 officers left the Queensland Police Service in the past three years, according to figures.
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said he was not surprised by the large number of police quitting.
“Morale is at its lowest point in the 25 years I have been a police officer,” Mr Leavers said.
The Gold Coast’s top cop has sensationally quit the force to join the security team for the Commonwealth Games.
Superintendent Des Lacy is a career police officer who has been acting as the Gold Coast District Officer for the past two years.
Supt Lacy will join the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) in the high-profile role of security manager late next month.
Supt Lacy is the latest in a growing list of senior Gold Coast police officers to leave the Glitter Strip.
Related: First Year Police Officer Salaries
Read more in The Australian.
Police Community Support Officers from across the West Midlands face sweeping cuts in the latest cash crisis facing West Midlands Police.
They have been summoned to a meeting to learn their fate as union bosses warn it will be “the end of neighbourhood policing” in the region.
Control room and front office staff – along with PCSOs the first point of contact with the public – also face cuts, the Birmingham Mail understands.
The news comes as up to 2,500 police and support staff jobs are at risk with West Midlands Police aiming to save £130 million over the next five years.
They are part of a massive package of cuts hitting almost 2,500 bobbies and support staff.
Read more in Birmingham Mail.
Source: www.birminghammail.co.uk
Student numbers are dwindling at the NSW Police Academy. From classes of 400 in 2012 to just 109 in May this year, numbers alone seem to paint a picture of a Force in a ‘slump’.
In an interview with the Goulburn Post on Wednesday, NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the decrease came down to a number of factors.
Attributing to the decline are historical low levels of officers leaving the NSW Police – from an average of 80 per month to just 20.
Read more in Goulburn Post.
Source: www.goulburnpost.com.au
Are you a serving/former police officer looking for a sea change? Tasmania Police could be for you!
Tasmania are now accepting Expressions of Interest from serving and former police officers from all Australian and New Zealand jurisdictions to participate in an Accelerated Training Program commencing in September 2015 and graduating before Christmas 2015. This intake will be restricted to limited numbers but there may be further opportunities in 2016.
Further information on requirements, selection process and training is available on Tasmania Police website, or by phoning Tasmania Police Recruiting Services on 1800 628 680.
Source: www.police.tas.gov.au
Halls Gap Police Station is now fully staffed, with two senior Victoria Police officers having settled in well to their new roles.
The station is staffed by Sergeant Scott Olsen and Senior Constable Kellie Harris. Sgt Olsen arrives in Halls Gap following a stint at Mildura, while S/C Harris has been based at Stawell and has been filling in for some time at Halls Gap.
Read more in The Stawell Times.
Source: www.stawelltimes.com.au
