by CAA | Dec 29, 2016 | Library, Uncategorized
29th December 2016
Victoria is labouring through a policing experiment, where tasking, or management by statistics, ls being marketed as “Modern Policing” but instead of reducing crime it has increased it, dramatically.
Victorian are subjected to a crime epidemic and a road toll that has risen alarmingly while other states of Australia enjoy a safer and relatively crime free life style that Victorians can only dream about.
The proliferation of home security systems and high front fences are stealing our life style more efficiently than terrorists.
Victorians are entitled to know how long it will be before this, ‘Modern Policing’, tasking experiment, is acknowledged as a failure and we can move to the traditional policing that we know works. The hope for this ‘Modern Policing’, tasking experiment to be claimed as a success has long gone. However self-serving reputations are defending the failure and delaying the inevitable demise of this experiment.
The amount of ‘bark’ lost by some will depend on how courageous they are in calling a halt. The longer this experiment is allowed to run the more severe the outcomes for its advocates.
Victoria already has the highest number of Police per 100,000 people, the highest of any State in Australia, the highest Crime rate and with a road network substantially smaller than other States a Road toll that continues to climb.
Key performance indicators for Policing in Victoria of Crime, up 13.5% and the Road Toll up by 14.7% are eerily similar and cannot be blamed on Socio Economic factors or other abnormalities peculiar to this State.
With an announced increase of 3000 more police over five years it is cold comfort for Victorian’s to look forward to the status quo for years to come until there are enough Police to follow this Tasking dream.
It is a wonder nobody has realised that no other States are following in Victoria’s footsteps and with good reason.
Worryingly, there is no guarantee that the ‘Modernising Policing’ tasking experiment will ever work, and, if it doesn’t, then what? When we find in five years 3,000 extra police are not enough, do we recruit 6,000 to be sure?
When you compare Victoria to New South Wales and compare their crime reduction figure to the Victorian crime increase the variation in crime is in the order of over twenty five percent more crime committed in Victoria compared to New South Wales. In the order of a twenty five percent crime differential is scary- for Victorians.
New South Wales news headlines,”12 major Crime types lowest in 20 years”, are something we can only dream about.
No wonder Politicians are beating a path to New South Wales. It is pure speculation, but management styles, management recruiting and Policing philosophies that differ from Victoria might be high on their agendas.
The New South Wales Police Commissioner Scipione has achieved extremely good policing results which reflect right through the Law and Order sphere.
The Courts in Victoria have a lot to answer for but until we get the policing of this State right we can hardly blame the Judiciary.
One of the problems with experiments is that they are embarked upon by people singularly focused with tenacity towards the successful outcome of their hypothesis, sometimes to the exclusion of rational and pragmatic evaluation.
A problem with the ‘Modern Policing.’ tasking experiment is, who is doing the evaluation?
Phrases like,” tasking leads to efficient use of resources ensuring that the resources are located where the problems are,” are theoretical wonder statements and are substantially flawed unless the allocations can be made at the time of the offences.
A faulty concept for if efficiency is gauged only by where resources are positioned then heaven help us.
Another flaw in this Modern Policing tasking experiment is that the use of statistics to deploy resources is by nature, always in the past tense. Thus deployment as a consequence of offending not deployment to avoid offending is reactive and is more akin to the Policing of the nineteen sixties.
It does not take long for law breakers to work out that the police will be tasked to where they were, not where they now are, and with the power of Social Media, coordination of criminal activity is simplified.
There is a common disclaimer on financial products, “If you are considering this product you should not rely on past performances alone you must seek professional advice.” It would be wise for Victoria Police to apply this to policing.
Ivan W.Ray
by CAA | Dec 21, 2016 | Library, Uncategorized
The recent announcements of, “ 3135” extra police seem to be smoke and mirrors unless the announcement can be clarified.
Different reports lead to different analysis of the announcement but non definitively state that the attrition rate is not included and these are additional Police over and above the 450 a year lost through attrition .
Some Government announcements quote 3135, and others 2729 – The confusion is that for the 3135 figure, the Government has included previously announced increases in this year’s budget.
The Victoria Police has a current strength of 14948 and that includes the previous Government increase. The actual increase on Police numbers as they currently stand are 2729
The increases will be over a 5 year period out to 2021( in some reports it is a 6 year time frame) when the population is estimated to increase by 600,000 from the current 6,000,000. The current rate per 100k for policing in this State is 249 and on current estimates that would drop to 243 with the,’ status quo’.
The attrition rate for Police is currently at 460 P/A so over the next 5 years that will be somewhere in the vicinity of 2300 provided there is no mass exodus through stress and being over worked.
That means over 5 years the actual increase is about 429 additional Police over the 5 year period. With the 60 police to maintain the 249 ratio and 415 Specialist Family Violence Police and the 42 Youth Police the whole thing just doesn’t add up or it is going backwards by a deficit of 88. That doesn’t seem like progress.
Unless the Government is funding attrition replacement on top of the 3135 this means somewhere in the vicinity 5435 police will be recruited over the 5 years, then the announcement is smoke and mirrors.
Which poses the obvious question, what about the PSO, Transit and custody Officers programs- if they are not maintained many extra Police will be just filling their void. There has been no mention of the impact on these services.
by CAA | Aug 2, 2016 | Library, Uncategorized
20th August 20161
The recent statistics relied upon by the Chief Commissioner to indicate Victoria Police are doing a good job are very interesting but there is more interesting data behind these headline numbers.
A dramatic increase in arrests should impact on the crime rate but with increased arrests over the last 5 years there has been an increase in crime not a decrease.
According to the Chief Commissioner there has been in a 30% increase on 5 years ago and 12% on last year.
It could be argued that this reflects poorly on the performance of Police 5 years ago and as recently as last year. But rather than reflect on the rank and file it reflects very poorly on the Command strategic philosophy.
If you thought, as many do, there are less police on the streets, the statistics support you. The substantial drop in detected disorderly offences coupled to the substantial gradual climb in the crime rate and reported public nuisance offences, and the dramatic drop in traffic offences detected says it all. If the police are not on the streets they cannot detect disorderly behaviours and they cannot detect traffic offences.
The headline number, as far as the community is concerned, is not the number of arrests but the crime rate, it is something we all have to live with, not the arrests.
As former Chief Commissioner Ken Lay was quoted as saying, “You can’t arrest your way out of the problem”, although made in the context of a specific crime category it is a statement equally relevant to the overall crime rate.
by CAA | Jun 20, 2016 | Library
June 2016
To address the major social issues of today we need to relate to youth for tomorrow.
The Blueprint
– Creating an environment for more effective Policing.
This Blueprint has been prepared by a number of retired executive police to provide a framework for a new paradigm in Policing, as it relates to youth. The basic premise is to move from dealing with the consequences of crime to reducing offending before it occurs, rather than the current emphasis of trying to divert offenders once they have offended. The Blueprint is contemporaneous with the Victoria Police Mission Statement.
The shifting of the primary focus to prevention of youth crime rather than managing the developed problem is logical but this does not mean the discontinuation of work with young offenders.
An educated community that has identifiable and direct contact with a police member can lead to early and appropriate intervention. It then follows that police can identify the greatest harms. Police in Schools Officers (PIS) are more likely to find out about the harms through the school network rather than from the victims who may be reluctant to involve the police for a variety of reasons. Domestic Violence, drug issues and Terrorism are but three examples.
The Proposal
To reintroduce a Police In Schools Program for Victoria, secure the future of the traditional Blue Light Project, coordinate formal and informal Police Youth activities and develop new initiatives in Police Youth relations.
Augment the impact on police resources by recruiting part-time retired police volunteers and seeking additional funding, external to Police budgets.
The proposal is focused on developing a partnership where the operations of a Board of Governors and Victoria Police dovetail to the mutual benefit of Youth.
Developing the Police (Retired) in Schools Program
Our objective will be to recruit sufficient numbers of suitable retired members to deliver the Primary Schools aspect of the project.
To attract retired members we need to address their needs to encourage them to commit. We need also to consider legitimacy of individuals delivering the package in the eyes of the community, the youth and the operational members.
We will ask for their time and in return offer respect and cover their costs.
Conclusion
With a strong will for change, this initiative would only be the first step in creating a meaningful and effective Youth strategy.
A long term vision applied to this model would see that generally the issue of Youth in Policing substantially funded and resourced outside the traditional Police Budget.
Kelvin Glare Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Retired
Bill Horman Commissioner of Tasmania Police Retired
Deputy Commissioner Victoria Police Retired
Noel Newnham Commissioner of Queensland Police Retired
Deputy Commissioner Victoria Police Retired
Ron Anstee Assistant Commissioner Victoria Police Retired
Ivan Ray Inspector Victoria Police founder Blue Light Retired
by CAA | Jun 14, 2016 | Library, Uncategorized
2014
The laws removing a person’s right to drive are designed to improve compliance and reduce death and injury on our roads. This is a laudable and noble endeavour; however, when that noble cause also creates undesirable consequences, it should be reviewed.
There is no doubt that the strong penalties imposed on drivers who break road laws have a deterrent effect, particularly on young drivers, but the current sentencing (some mandatory) needs to be discussed and reviewed. Sentencing or penalties should be about correcting behaviour not about destroying lives and making things worse for our community.
The total removal of the right to drive can be a terrible penalty with many unintended consequences that do not always achieve the desired effect. If a penalty also means losing employment, this is very severe for a first offence and is counterproductive to the greater community good.
There will be an argument that the transgressors deserve what they get and they made bad choices and put others at risk – perhaps there is merit in that view, but when considering the overall impact of these penalties that they can be disproportionately unfair, particularly for first or young offenders. There needs to be a pragmatic review of the system. Destroying lives is not good Justice.
We are not talking about dangerous, serial or rogue recidivists. They do not deserve compassion.
There is a bias in imposing penalties against those who are employed in the non-professional sphere. Licence Suspensions and Disqualification coupled with fines (often and routinely higher than for property crime and crimes of violence) may utterly destroy those who need a driver’s licence for their job.
Taking away a person’s livelihood for relatively minor offences is cruel and unjust.
The first thing that happens to most trade-orientated defendants is their job is lost and hope of employment in their trade unlikely. Apprenticeships can be lost forever. Some professional people and workers in retail, health and hospitality can access their work by public transport, but frequently a trade worker must be able to drive, not just to access their workplaces but to undertake their work. Mechanics who cannot test drive a car, or plumbers and carpenters who cannot carry their tools to work, are just some of a myriad of jobs that require a licence. We may, of course, add any employment where a driving licence is an employment condition.
Workers who lose their licences and their jobs lose the capacity to pay fines. Defaulting on penalties can lead to imprisonment. The loss of income also means that any loans un-serviced can result in foreclosure and the probable repossession of the goods, usually their car. This inevitably leads to the downgrading or loss of any form of credit rating. The multiplication effect of penalties does not take into account that the offender still has to live, and the penalty is further magnified if the driver is on the lower end of the socio-economic scale. Insolvency and bankruptcy are sometimes inevitable.
In summary, penalties for low range traffic offences and first offenders are destroying lives.
It is incongruous that penalties regularly reported in the media for crimes of violence, drug and property offences (and even some high-range driving offences) seem to be proportionally and sometimes lighter than those imposed on drivers who are first-time offenders for low-range offences.
Poorly applied sentencing penalties will not lead to a reduction in offending, but an escalation as perpetrators convert to victims of the system. They can feel trapped and can see only the option of repeat offending, or resorting to habitual welfare, joining the unemployable.
A feeling of hopelessness and being trapped in the” Unintentional Cycle” pushes many to criminal activity and or drug abuse as an escape or an ill-advised path to a solution. The untold mental damage and perhaps self-destruction is bad enough for the individual, but the impact on the community is underrated.
Low-level traffic offenders can go from net contributors to a net liability for the community through welfare.
Drivers need to be accountable for their non-compliance, but we need to review the removal of drivers’ licences to allow the courts to use diversions, conditional Suspensions and Disqualifications.
It seems odd that diversion is the preferred option for the courts in criminal matters, but they do not apply the same standards to traffic matters. The rationale should be identical.
To remove a licence conditionally by limiting hours of driving so that the defendant can continue to work, would seem to be a fairer outcome and the impact on their social life not unreasonable – though even that may be excessive for a first offender.
Why should we not offer Good Behaviour Bonds in traffic cases as is done in some other State jurisdictions?
Under the current system, we still have many recidivist traffic offenders. The current regime does not promote compliance to any higher degree than the alternative approach we recommend.
How many of the current crop of recidivist drivers lost their licence for their first offence and ended up in the “Unintentional Cycle”?
We call on the Government to bring about necessary changes to legislation to provide greater flexibility in sentencing for traffic offences in Victoria, making them at least comparative to the criminal sentencing practices.
by CAA | May 20, 2016 | Library, Uncategorized
20th May 2016
To address the major social issues of today we need to relate to youth for tomorrow.
The Blue Print
– Creating an environment for more effective Policing.
This Blue Print has been prepared by a number of retired executive police to provide a frame work for a new paradigm in Policing, as it relates to youth. The basic premise is to move from dealing with the consequences of crime to reducing offending before it occurs roblux decals kafkacotton, rather than the current emphasis of trying to divert offenders once they have offended. The Blue Print is contemporaneous with the Victoria Police Mission Statement.
There will always be a valid argument for the need to reduce recidivism and that need will always exist but the current good work done by many is poorly coordinated leading to ineffectiveness. VicPol needs to provide leadership to coordinate and better target the efforts to reduce recidivism and offending in the first place.
The community needs VicPol to acknowledge its triage role.
The shifting of the primary focus to prevention of youth crime rather than managing the developed problem is logical but this does not mean the discontinuation of work with young offenders.
This shift in focus will make working with recidivists and their families more effective as that work would build on earlier contact with the family and the offender in the early intervention programs.
An educated community that has identifiable and direct contact with a police member can lead to early and appropriate intervention. It then follows that police can identify the greatest harms. Police in Schools Officers (PIS) are more likely to find out about the harms through the school network rather than from the victims who may be reluctant to involve police for a variety of reasons. Domestic Violence, drug issues and Terrorism are but three examples.
The Proposal
To introduce a Police In Schools Program for Victoria, secure the future of the traditional Blue Light Project, coordinate formal and informal Police Youth activities and develop new initiatives in Police Youth relations.
Augment the impact on police resources by recruiting part time retired police volunteers and seek additional funding, external to Police budgets.
The proposal is focused on developing a partnership where the operations of a Board of Governors and Victoria Police dovetail to the mutual benefit of Youth.
The Organization
It seems illogical to start from ground zero when we already have a Youth orientated organisation in Blue Light.
A Board of Governors to manage the affairs of Blue Light Victoria would develop a similar relationship to VicPol as Blue Ribbon but in another sphere.
It is recommended that the Chair of a Blue Light Board of Governors should be appointed by the Chief Commissioner (CCP) and Governors appointed by the Chair in consultation with the CCP.
The CCP should encourage someone with a strong police leadership background who has an understanding and passion for the task and is respected both within and external to VicPol. This will set the standard for the future. Retired Chief Commissioner Kel Glare would fit this criteria and would be a very appropriate appointment..
The Board will be charged with achieving additional funding external to Police Budgets to promote and finance initiatives that may not be possible in the current environment. The detail of this relationship will be developed with the Chief Commissioner’s nominee and the Board
The Attractions of using Blue Light Vic Inc.
- Blue Light has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status and it is a registered Not for Profit Organization (NFP).
- Blue Light has also a well sourced insurance policy in place that can be easily adapted to the broader project.
- Blue Light has already an established network that can build/integrate on the VicPol Youth Resource Officer network.
- Being a not for profit organization Blue Light can (and already does) attract Corporate, Philanthropic and Government grants to finance projects moving reliance away from VicPol budgets.
- Blue Light’s most valuable asset is its brand and that saves having to develop one from scratch – Critical to attracting community acceptance and corporate and philanthropic support.
Developing the Police (Retired) in Schools Program
Our objective will be to recruit sufficient numbers of suitable retired members to deliver the Primary Schools aspect of the project. Most of the support for these members will rely on electronic communication. This will ensure integration, coordination and supervision. Youth Resource Officers (YRO) would need to be involved at Secondary School level so there is continuity of purpose.
To attract retired members we need to address their needs to encourage them to commit. We need also to consider legitimacy of individuals delivering the package in the eyes of the community, the youth and the operational members.
We will ask for their time and in return offer respect and cover their costs.
It can be suggested that a flaw in the manner in which youth services are currently delivered is the lack of coordination. An effective Blue Light Board could provide the leadership to achieve a better outcome and better use of resources.
Everybody agrees there should be coordination but it just isn’t happening, what is needed is somebody smart enough or brave enough to stand up and provide leadership. A Blue Light Board of Governors could provide that Leadership particularly with a Chair the calibre of Mr Glare supported by the CCP.
To be effective we need to stop pandering to the sensitivities of organizations quarantining their function from each other. There is certainly lots of talk but no outcomes.
Legal Liabilities Corporate Risk
Currently any Police youth (or Community) activities are authorised at a local level but it seems Sovereign or Corporate risk factors do not play a part in the assessment. Additionally projects are undertaken by police members without corporate authority because they were doing them in their own time.
A child (or adult) injured during any Police oversighted activity (on duty or voluntary – authorised or not) poses corporate risk to VicPol and a Sovereign risk to the State.
An effective Board of Governors would address this issue and implement procedures to minimise the risk.
Conclusion
With a strong will for change, this initiative would only be the first step in creating a meaningful and effective Youth strategy.
A long term vision applied to this model would see that generally the issue of Youth in Policing substantially funded and resourced outside the traditional Police Budget.
That is not to say that this program will have no impact on Police resources particularly during the start-up phase.
There are some similar aspects to the New Zealand Model of Blue Light in this structure however it takes their model to a new level.
The attraction to VicPol has many facets. The structure recommended makes provision for VicPol (CCP) to influence the function of the Board and should there be a problem then it won’t be VicPol, it will be the Blue Light Board.
Kelvin Glare Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Retired
Bill Horman Commissioner of Tasmania Police Retired
Deputy Commissioner Victoria Police Retired
Noel Newnham Commissioner of Queensland Police Retired
Deputy Commissioner Victoria Police Retired
Ron Anstee Assistant Commissioner Victoria Police Retired
Ivan Ray Inspector Victoria Police founder Blue Light Retired
by CAA | Feb 9, 2016 | Library, Uncategorized
9th February 2017
– The G-Tag Vehicle Global Positioning System, will
Save lives
Reduce crime
Cost positive and
Make Victoria a leader as an innovative State.
Introduction
For most people, their car is their most important and valued asset and to have it stolen is devastating. But motor cars, whether stolen or not, are also commonly associated with crimes including, hit-and-run, robbery, drugs, rape, murder and domestic violence and now terrorism.
The relatively new experience of motor vehicles being used as a weapon either against Police or as a weapon of mass destruction, terror related or not, is a new phenomenon. The introduction of this new level of violence In the West has brought a new urgency to the G-Tag.
The G-Tag when fully implemented, is the only stratagem that will stop vehicles being used as weapons.
The Bourke Street massacre should be justification alone to introduce the G-Tag and unless you live under a rock we know that it will only be a matter of time before we experience the devastation of truck or car bombs as is all too common elsewhere in the world. The possibility of IS fighters and or their children returning to Australia from these areas will no doubt bring with it skills used in that place.
The multiple killings, countless injuries, millions of dollars of theft and massive damage bills caused because current legislation is focused exclusively on the driver not the vehicle and until that changes the vehicles and their drivers will continue to wreak havoc.
The most creative solution dreamed up thus far by Government and police in Melbourne is strategically placed bollards and reinforced concrete planters. A little underwhelming. They will create safe areas (behind their protection and then only from cars) but the vulnerability of people will then be focused on the areas unable to be protected including every intersection in Melbourne at peak pedestrian times when pedestrians in large numbers cross are exposed.
There were 4,567,314 vehicles (ABS Data and includes all vehicles) Registered in Victoria in 2015 – a huge and valuable state asset that needs to be protected.
The traditional view that the risks posed by the motor car should be managed by legislation which focuses on the driver, clearly has had only limited success.
– To further reduce the risks we need to focus on the vehicle.
The best way to reduce any crime is to increase in the perpetrators’ mind the likelihood that they will get caught – penalties in themselves have limited impact because the perpetrator does not commit the act to get caught and never expects to get caught.
When the probability of being caught fails to dissuade we need the ability to intervene to minimise the impact of the behaviour.
Authorities (Police) should be able to safely slow down or stop particular vehicles in the interests of public safety and/or law–enforcement
Without diminishing the current Law and Order response there is a need to think through and discuss alternatives – that alternative is the vehicle.
GPS Tracking
GPS tracking is widely used in the community, the devices record and re-transmit its own location to a satellite-based global positioning system. These re-transmitted signals allows the identification of the vehicle, the vehicles location and the route it has and is taking. It also communicates the vehicle speed.
That route can be recorded for days or weeks therefore capable of identifying which vehicle was driven in a particular location at a previous time. This ability will allow Police to identify vehicle used in crime and as important as the current location of the vehicle is the historical routes the vehicle has taken which perhaps have more investigative value.
An example, and there are many, would be a drive by shooting in the early hours. Witnesses can usually supply a time of the shots, with a G-Tag the police could identify which vehicles was driven in that location at the time given.
Central to this proposal will be the fitting of tracking devices to every vehicle and although this forms part of the first stage of this proposal, it needs to be seen through the prism of advantages to the community, a safety and Crime Prevention/Minimisation strategy, albeit that an economic case may be produced for the system raising alternative revenue streams for the Government.
Setting the case for part one of this proposal – the G-Tag
The advantages of developing a GPS locating system, or G-Tag, for the entire Victorian road fleet will be no small feat, however the return will be enormous.
- Theft of Motor vehicles and machinery –
With a G-Tag stolen vehicles can be located quickly, the focus is on the property, not the perpetrator however that will lead to perpetrators being detected rapidly. This will lead to a reduction in insurance costs. G-Tags . This would also reduce the demand on Police time and assist in arresting perpetrators.
G-Tags will influence the perpetrators knowing the chances of getting caught have escalated and may dissuade many would-be’s.
In Australia 49 vehicles a week are stolen and processed for scrap metal – one in four cars stolen are never recovered – $103 Million estimated value of cars never recovered. There are estimated to be 5 million cars on Australian roads that do not have immobilising technology. (Source -National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council.).
In Victoria 14366 vehicle thefts were reported according to VicPol statistics – in 2014. In 2015 that number increased to 17090 an increase of 19%. The National average of vehicles not recovered is 31%,(This figure could be substantially higher when including vehicles recovered damaged beyond repair – burnt out etc.) so extrapolating those figures to Victoria, in excess of 5000 vehicles disappear every year, or nearly 100 every week.
What the statistics do not show is the hardship caused and the danger posed to the community
- Community safety – a G-Tag will assist
- Victims of Domestic violence-. They can be better protected by tagging perpetrators vehicles in the G-Tag system to warn Police of the perpetrator heading toward the victim. The use of postcodes to quarantine victims will enable Police to intervene when postcode boundaries are crossed by perpetrators breaching a Family Violence Orders. Alerting Police to reduce the risk to the victim.
- Missing Persons-. G-Tags can locate vehicles of missing persons before self-harm. Suicidal victims are generally located after their demise when family have contacted Police over concerns but Police driving around searching every nook and cranny has historically been demonstrated as ineffective and an utter waste of time.
G-Tags will save lives with the chance of getting professional help to a desperate person.
For a variety of reasons people disappear in their cars, from murder victims to abductions to the mentally ill. To be able to locate their car using G-Tag will lead to interventions that will save lives.
- Rural application- The application in Rural and remote Victoria is very sound, consider being able to locate a tractor on a large remote property, or a driver overdue to destinations particularly in times of natural disaster. This will also reduce the number of unnecessary searches.
The applications of G-Tag technology can be extended to include watercraft and recreational vehicles.
- Technology instead of manpower. The thousands of man hours expended by emergency services, particularly Police, can be dramatically reduced in multiple circumstances by the G-Tag Policing will become more efficient and effective reducing pressure on Police resources.
- Criminal activity –
- Terrorism Investigations would have the advantage of monitoring vehicles with G-Tag’s without intrusion to better understand the risks posed by suspects.
The use of vehicles as a weapon in Terrorism is common place in the current war zones and is likely to appear in Australia when daesh fighters and or their families return bringing that knowledge with them.
- Criminal Behaviour –There is a current spate of home invasions where perpetrators physically confront victims in their homes by forced entry to gain access to keys to steal high end motor vehicles. This type of activity is on the rise, there is a substantial risk that serious harm if not the death of a victim. The ability to track these vehicles by G-Tag and immobilise them is very attractive to the victims and Police.
- Illicit Drugs must be transported in vehicles at some stage. Access to G-Tag technology will provide invaluable assistance in managing the importation and trafficking of drugs.
- Hoon Drivers –can be monitored and removed from our roads. Known hoons’ vehicles can be tagged in the G-Tag system and an alarm indicating when like tagged vehicles are identified by the system to be congregating can give Police the opportunity to intervene before the dangers escalate.
- Police Pursuits – This technology virtually eliminates the need for a pursuit and the disabling of the car by G-Tag reduces risk to the Community, the Police and even the offender.
- Emergency vehicles – can easily and reliably be located and managed when civil emergencies occur. g. incident managers could recognise the precise locations of fire appliances during bushfire outbreaks, so as to direct them to where they are most needed – or away from impending danger.
- Arial surveillance – Currently undertaken by the Police Air wing there are limitations with availability and response times. The G-Tag will not replace the need for Arial Surveillance as a Policing tool but the G-Tag will greatly enhance the effectiveness of the Air Wing reducing operating costs.
- Legal implications – The data recorded in the G-Tag system has evidentiary value as does E-Tags and Security Cameras, however the potential for the improved data available from G-Tags will provide strong data of evidentiary value for Prosecution and Defence in equal benefit, further improving our judicial system.
Setting the case for Part 2 of this proposal using G-Tag.
The first part of this proposal using a converted E-Tag’s will only reach a percentage of the Victorian fleet and unless a case can be presented for voluntary take up of G-Tags based on the E-Tag system the limitations although not totally limiting will reduce the overall potential of the program. The advantage in converting E-Tags to G-Tags will ensure a rapid introduction of the program.
Part 2 is the introduction of more sophisticated G-Tag’s (technology is currently available) that are hard wired into the vehicles electronics and fitted where they cannot be easily removed or interfered with. This technology adds a new layer where the vehicles electronics can be activated remotely to put the vehicle into limp home mode (reducing its top speed to 80KPH) before activating the engine immobiliser to halt the vehicle. The only limitations will be that certain vehicles do not have the limp home mode and would be stopped at a safe place.
The upgraded G-Tags would need to be fitted to all new vehicles including trucks pre delivery and fitted to all cars as part of the roadworthy process. A moratorium would be required to set a reasonable time that all vehicles must comply, similar to other safety initiatives including seat belt introduction.
Stage 2 will allow Police to intervene to stop the commission or continuance of a crime the primary role of Police.
The issue of re-establishing the functionality of the vehicle when recovered, or is no longer a threat, is again a technical issue that should not prove insurmountable. If it can be switched off it can be switched on, it is just a matter of protocols.
The cost debate
There is a cost but as this is a new innovation the technology development costs of G-Tag would be well offset by marketing the initiative interstate and overseas. A fee for service arrangement, assisting set up and a fee for intellectual property would generate substantial income.
Part of the development costs could be covered by the Insurance Industry and TAC who both stand to gain considerably. There would be nominal cost recovery from the users in the installation of a device into the existing fleet – manufacturers would be required to fit the device pre- delivery on all new vehicles.
An offset to the toll operator’s contribution will be the income generated when tracking devices are fitted to the Victorian fleet to include the E-Tag function in the G-Tag effectively the E-Tag would be redundant.
With savings achieved to the State economy the overall cost will be well offset. Recurring costs would be in part recovered by beneficiaries, namely Insurance companies, Toll operators, TAC and the user.
Car owners will have to bear some costs, subsidised for Welfare recipients but the cost should not be prohibitive somewhere under $200.
The proposal to introduce a pay as you use system for registration, third party and comprehensive insurance will contribute to the set up and recurring cost of the system. The system could therefore potentially protect innocent victims from financial hardship as a result of vehicle damage – Potentially the initiative could be cost positive.
Technology
Anybody who own a smart phone or has a Satellite navigation device is acutely aware of the power and application of technology.
Currently advertised on the internet for $35 is a tracking device that can be attached to a vehicle and linked to a smart phone. The technology exists and is small and relatively cheap.
With the increasing sophistication of motor vehicles and their reliance on computers to manage their engines an opportunity exists to intervene in a vehicle’s performance. A large part (and increasing) of the Victorian fleet are vehicles that have an inbuilt “Limp Home Mode” in their computer systems designed, to protect the engine from further damage should a fault be detected
It is a matter of connecting the dots. If we can identify a vehicle using GPS locating technology by a G-Tag, we only need to develop a mechanism to access the vehicle’s computer via the G-Tag to activate the “Limp Home Mode” or the vehicles,” Immobilisation technology”. A SIM card is the solution.
By designing and fitting an after-market G-Tag to attached to the electronics of vehicle’s the function of the vehicle can be managed. The power supply for the G-Tag is then secured for the life of the vehicle. The simplest method to communicate with the vehicle electronics is by a SIM card in the device using the Mobile network to communicate with the cars computer.
The Issue of Privacy
In the 1980’s there was a very vocal minority who saw themselves as the keepers of our privacy objecting to the installation of the eight CCTV cameras for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Melbourne. They vocalised on the prying eyes and the abuse that would occur should the cameras not be removed immediately the conference was finished- “It’s a Police State”, was the mantra of the group.
Their plaintive cries are now fairly humorous, when we look around at the number of cameras that watch us on a daily basis but there is no community concern as it has been demonstrated that they serve the greater good, and law abiding citizens do not care if they are watched. Indeed, governments actively encourage wider use of CCTV in public places and the take-up of private CCTV systems – including those monitoring public spaces – is impressive.
This initiative has a distinct advantage over the CCTV cameras. The Cameras have a deterrent effect and assist with identifying perpetrators but they cannot stop or prevent the continuation of a crime – the G-Tag can.
For anybody worried about the movement of their vehicle being monitored then realise there is over 5 million vehicles in Victoria so nobody would have the time the resources or the interest to monitor every vehicle – it will be enough just monitoring vehicle that are of particular interest- law abiding citizens just hide in the crowd.
-there is no reason to hide if you are being lawful.
Impact on Judicial processes.
The implementation of this system will provide the Judiciary with and alternative in the sentencing of offenders particularly for the less serious traffic infringements and in some case other criminal activity.
Currently lives are ruined financially and otherwise by fines and driving restrictions that cause offenders to loose employment and the capacity to pay fines and in this double jeopardy can ruin many young people’s lives. Correcting bad behaviour by bad outcomes destroys the chance of future compliance and does not lead to future compliance but can in desperation lead particularly young people towards crime and in desperation drugs to escape what they see as a hopeless situation from which they see no escape.
The G-Tag system can be used to manage the use of a vehicle to certain roads and or times to allow Offenders to continue in employment therefore enabling them to pay the fines but still having their mobility curtailed dramatically to serve as a punishment.
We are not suggesting this facility become run of the mill but for cases where a driver may exceed .05 after a reading shows residual alcohol or drugs in the low range. Or where breaches of Licence offences and registration matters can be managed without ruining lives.
The increase in penalty recovery would justify offenders retaining employment and avoid forcing people onto welfare and damaging the States productivity.
System Security
There will need to be legislation that includes safeguards for privacy and safeguards against tampering with the system either the physical equipment or any signal emitted.
One of the best securities of the privacy of individuals is the overall size of the Victorian fleet. The agency monitoring the data will be necessarily focused on the important data and the average law abiding citizen will only be exposed to the system when they are a victim.
Conclusion
The G-Tag is an “out there” proposal but there are a myriad far more extreme ideas that once seemed farfetched that are now accepted as the mainstream norm, worldwide web, television and the telephone!
Anybody who has a mobile phone, shops at a supermarket or a volume traders store, has interaction with any political organisation, uses the internet, uses a financial institution, has an interaction with Health or Education systems and takes out Insurance, is part of the workforce or reliant on welfare has more detail of their lives recorded, trolled through and assessed than we care to think about but it is a price we are prepared to pay for convenience and quality of life.
We now accept security cameras as a way of life as well as the dreaded speed cameras, an acceptable inconvenience that serves the greater good.
It will take leadership and innovative thought to implement this proposal, however the advantages to the community makes it a worthwhile project.
Our Prime Minister calls for Innovation – this is innovation that will save lives.
“I have worked hard to own my car and if it gets stolen I would be very happy that it could be located and disabled as soon as it is reported (minimising damage to it) . It would be a bonus that the low life that did it was caught.” A view that would be shared by the overwhelming majority of Victorians.
Recommendation
That a working party be established by Government to draft the legislation to establish a G-Tag Authority with the role of developing the technology and designing the model for the ongoing management and operation of the system.
Ivan W. Ray
Secretary
Community Advocacy Alliance
by CAA | Jun 16, 2015 | Library
2015
At the heart of every healthy and resilient organisation is its culture. A culture can wax and wane, but it is the culture that creates the environment for a successful, productive and dynamic enterprise. At its cultural peak an organisation can be unassailable in its quest for success, at its worst it will destroy that very same organisation making it circumscribed, insipid, racked with problems producing lacklustre results.
Many of the influences on the culture dynamic are very subtle, and others not so, however, to re-energise a negative culture takes a particular management skill.
One of the things we do know from our experience is that a culturally sound and dynamic organisation is not plagued by embarrassing leaks to the media because there are no embarrassments to leak.
Media leaks are symptomatic of a culturally weak organisation, and the problem is exasperated by ‘Witch Hunts’, focusing on the source of the leak, rather than energy directed at solving the issue leaked.’ Witch Hunts’ are damaging to the culture and used by management to divert focus from their ineptitude.
We recommend the Force adopt a Discipline Penalty Notice (DPN) approach to discipline within the organisation capable of dealing with eighty per cent of the discipline matters of the organisation.
The focus of this system is to correct behaviours, and if that fails, to provide empirical evidence to terminate the police member.
The advantages of discipline notice are:
- The application of discipline can be closely monitored in both its application and impact, by location and individual managers and will remove or readily identify examples of harassment.
- Managers will not need to negotiate to avoid rationalisation debates and conflict.
- The system will be cost-effective by removing convoluted disciplinary procedures.
- To free up resources dedicated to disciplinary matters to further bolster frontline policing.
- To provide essential information for selection boards. Selection boards having access to notices issued against an applicant or where rank appropriate the number of notices issued by the applicant are both valuable inputs, to assess any applicant.
- Provide empirical data for any consideration of a member’s ability to remain in the organisation.
What might a Discipline Notice system look like?
The main components of the system should be:
- To recognise natural justice principles of fairness.
- To not be cumbersome.
- To ensure a single notice does not result in the imposition of a fine. However, the second notice in a predetermined period should activate both penalties.
- A period of six months without further breaches should see the expiration of the original notice and the original notice expunged from the records.
- The penalties must be scaled. However, the temptation for high penalties must be avoided as the application of this process has broader implications than the monetary penalty.
- A right of appeal within a predetermined period, for example, seven days, must be provided to either a nominated Panel and or the Police Discipline Board.
- Fines set ranging from $20 – $200 to discourage frivolous appeals.
- Penalties, when applied, must be recovered at the following pay period.
- Line managers must be given real-time data on the use of this process within their span of command to enable action to be taken against misuse.
- Notices must generally be issued at the time of the infringement, delaying the issuing minimises the effect.
- Once a Notice is issued, the onus will shift to the member to justify the breach on appeal.
The kinds of discipline offences that might be included are:
Not being available to start work at the rostered time.
Ceasing duty before the allotted shift expiration.
Presenting for duty with hairstyle that does not comply with policy.
Unkempt Uniform.
Failing to maintain footwear in a serviceable and clean condition.
Failing to wear headwear outside the precincts of a police building.
Failing to properly brief fellow officers on matters likely to affect their performance of duty or adversely affect the public.
Unauthorised access to material on the Police Intranet.
Use of police IT resources for other than Police work.
Abusive or belligerent behaviour in the workplace.
Making racial or sexist slurs or gestures.
Failing to report to superiors incidents of harassment, bullying or sexually inappropriate behaviour of others.
Failing to comply with a supervisor’s reasonable and lawful instruction.
Failing to complete required correspondence in a timely manner.
Failing to properly deal with a member of the Public.
Failing to follow up on a report by a member of the public.
Failing to be courteous or compassionate to a member of the public.
Failing to maintain Police equipment in a serviceable condition.
The unauthorised release of information to the media.
Insubordination.
Asleep on duty.
Failing to perform the allocated rostered duty.
These are but a few matters that can be dealt with under this process. There is no doubt there are many more that can be added to the list — the more added, the less need for specialist investigators.
This process will be a huge step in moving decision making from a centralised system closer to where the action causing the beach is played out and empowers line managers to take greater control of their area of responsibility.
With this proposal outline, we are confident that a small committed team could have this system operational in a reasonably short period. The success of the program will be the implementation with deliberate acceptance that once it is operational there will be the need for adjustments until the best process evolves. This is a principle used widely and effectively in the private sector.
Trying to make it perfect before implementation will assign this initiative to a premature grave.
by CAA | Jun 14, 2015 | Library, Uncategorized
2015
“The Hub”, is a designated building designed to accommodate a number of Police related Not for Profit organisations and critically to provide a purpose-built base for the operation of the Victoria Police Retired Police Association Peer Support Program (PSP) and support VicPol peer support activities.
The Retired Police Association (RPA) PSP has only been operating for less than two years and has cobbled together sufficient funds to train up 41 Retired Police PSP Councillors who operate purely voluntarily throughout Victoria and also cover their own and clients out of pocket expenses.
In this short time frame, the group are looking after 400 ex-police varying in needs from social company to serious mental health issues including depression, PTSD and addictions to gambling, drugs and alcohol.
A parallel program is operated by Victoria Police, and that program could be accommodated in part by “The Hub” in its operations.
The PSP group has a similar experience to the Department of Veterans Affairs where issues, particularly of PTSD attributable to service, are manifesting later in life.
The CAA was advised by the recently Retired Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Mike O’Meara who has extensive experience in administering the Psych services in Veterans Affairs, on the development of these initiatives.
Based on world experience, we can assume that fifteen per cent of ex-members will need some assistance with mental health issues after they cease employment with VicPol.
This would no doubt be replicated with other emergency services, particularly the Ambulance Service. To say that the PSP, has seen but the tip of the iceberg is a statement of fact. It is not unreasonable to warn the Government of a tsunami of mental health issues for ex-Police that is not far away, and the early intervention of the PSP may lessen the impact and cost when it arrives.
Funding is a pressing necessity with the PSP program that only has sufficient funds to see them through to mid-2018. Apart from the meagre funds of the PSP the group have received funding from the Police Association to assist with training however the financial viability of the program for the long term must be addressed relatively urgently to allow the practitioners to get on with the job rather than worrying about funding.
We are at a loss as to how PSP has been so successful to date given that they have achieved their success on such a minuscule budget. What they have achieved is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of the Retired members running the program.
Of a much more pressing necessity is the establishment of” The Hub” facility which ideally will provide suitable accommodation for the PSP operatives and their administrative support but also house Clinicians to back up the program and act as referral for some of the more dire cases handled by the PSP.
One of the problems is the stigma either real or perceived that people suffering mental health issues and their families’ experience.
To that end, our proposal is to establish a commercial coffee shop as the “Front door”, of the services. A space people needing help can attend without fear of stigma. It is important that the Coffee shop is a commercial venture catering for the public to assist with the anonymity of people to access the resource and contribute to the operating costs of the PSP.
The PSP has identified the security of the PSP operatives as a major concern. They are not permitted to attend private dwellings, and currently, their only option is to meet at local coffee shops. This is proving unsatisfactory by not offering the clients appropriate confidentiality and a level of security should a client have an episode.
The concept of “The Hub” requires the ability to develop a commercial coffee shop so location is important, good public transport and car access is essential and sufficient room to provide administration for RPA PSP, other NFP Police related organisations and clinical services to support PSP.
Another aspect of, “The Hub” is to include a Police and Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) in the building. Apart from the obvious advantages in the Youth space, a PCYC Gymnasium could also help fund the operation of “The Hub”.
Allegedly many Gyms, now extremely popular with younger adults, are operated by Bikie Gangs (OMG’s). The operations of PCYC in the youth field are not compromised by the operation of the facility as a commercial Gymnasium; additionally, many Police and other Emergency Service members would be more comfortable using a PCYC Gym than some of the alternative venues. Not having a member of an OMG working out beside you would be an attraction to many.
The proximity of the Gym to the PSP services will also provide the capacity for some clients to combine their gymnasium programs for the health of their body with the work on their mental health.
Bringing these organisations together will have the bonus of improving their capacity to perform their various NFP functions and also add to the anonymity of current and ex-members going to the facility to seek help or undergo treatment.
The facility also has the capacity to provide opportunities for Volunteer work which may assist some of the PSP Clients.
It will also allow for easier access to these organisations by VicPol and the Government.
The recommendation is to establish a Pilot facility so that operational matters can be addressed and sorted. It is recommended that a Board of Directors be established to manage the facility that initially includes Police and Government representatives together with a Chair and others drawn from the broader community with commercial experience.
The whole operation would need seed funding and the application of some resources; however, once established the “The Hub” would be self-funding.
As the development of this concept, achieves identified targets, so the program can be replicated across the State with the critical proviso of the establishment of a Community Board to operate each Hub independently. There is an important role for Local Government in the program to also provide resource support.
The initial Board would assume responsibility for the overall coordination and development of the program. Then to manage Operational standards and fiscal responsibility, coordinating all establishments and facilities operating under the banner of “The Hub”.
Ivan W.Ray Hon Secretary
Community Advocacy Alliance
by CAA | May 22, 2015 | Library, Uncategorized
22nd May 2015
The Victoria Police Blue Paper: ‘A Vision for Victoria Police in 2025’ was released in early June 2014. This paper accepts the original manifesto for policing of Sir Robert Peel and reinforces the need for the Victoria Police (“VicPol”) to become more engaged with the community.
This is not occurring and this must change.
Policing in Victoria is moving back to the dark ages and it seems a fortress mentality is emerging where Vicpol is becoming more and more disengaged from the community, particularly youth.
This is at a time when engagement with the community in general and youth in particular has never been more important, particularly given terrorist acts are often perpetrated by youth.
We note the recent instruction that police must work in pairs and wear protective vests on duty,adult games tv not travel to and from home in uniform and not take police cars home or park them where police live.
An edict promulgated in response to the perceived increased threats of terrorism.
We are of the view that this is a win for terrorists and sends the message that VicPol fears these barbarians. This is completely the antithesis of what community leaders from the Prime Minister down are urging the community to do.
Present and past serving police can rightfully feel offended as they have all served and will continue to serve their sworn duty to protect the citizens of this state. This capitulation is at a time when VicPol ought to be providing leadership and setting an example that terrorism can never win in Australia.
Extremism is being allowed to effectively neutralise the Police Force.
Additionally VicPol seems to be moving rapidly to where resources are cloistered in larger Police Stations with personnel only leaving to respond to specific incidents. This siege mentality will force police members to further disconnect from the ariel rebel community.
A basic policing tool is the gathering of information which can only occur through engagement with the community. Without it policing becomes ineffective and crime and social disorder flourishes.
The fundamentals of good policing are increasingly being unheeded.
A striking example is the withdrawal of VicPol from supporting youth programs like Blue Light, New Start and the now abolished highly successful Police in Schools program.
Given the current environment these programs should be promoted and supported not discarded.
We urge an urgent independent review of policing policy to return VicPol to being “The People’s Force”, for all Victorians.
Kelvin Glare AO APM OStJ Retired Chief Commissioner Victoria Police
Noel Newman APM NPSM Retired Commissioner Queensland Police Retied Deputy Commissioner Victoria Police
William (Bill) Horman APM Retired Commissioner Tasmania Police Retired Commissioner Vanuatu Police Retired Deputy Commissioner Victoria Police
Neil O’Loughlin Retired Deputy Commissioner Victoria Police
Ivan Ray Retired Inspector Victoria Police Founder Blue Light Former CEO Blue Light Victoria
John Thexton MLshipMgt(Policing) Retired Inspector Victoria Police
Former Secretary Operation New Start Vic.
by CAA | May 4, 2015 | Library, Uncategorized
Commissioner Marcia Neave AO
Submission relating to family violence – May 2015
We the undersigned, both former high ranking police officers, are very concerned that the real issues of family violence and crime generally are not being adequately addressed.
Almost all approaches to these issues are post the event. While diversionary programs are worthwhile, how much better it would be if people were discouraged from offending in the first place?
Early intervention is the key to reducing the horrific number of offences being committed.
Domestic violence, home grown terrorism, the scourge of Ice (methamphetamine) are all critical social issues that traditional diversionary strategies do not successfully address. We will not bore you with endless statistics on the basis that the figures are well known to you.
Domestic violence along with other critical issues and crime must be addressed within all schools educational curriculum and in our view is a message best delivered by Police.
Nothing else will be effective in breaking the present cycle of violence.
A quote attributed to Einstein, but not actually his, is still entirely relevant. “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
In 1976 Ivan Ray, then a serving member of the Victoria Police, introduced the “Blue Light Discos” which quickly spread throughout Victoria and to other jurisdictions both within and outside Australia. These Discos were staffed by police which brought police into close contact with youth while providing a safe environment in which young people could enjoy social contact. The relationship between young people and police improved dramatically where this initiative continues to operate. There is a corresponding drop in the commission of criminal offences in these areas. Parents of young people attending appreciated that their youngsters were able to enjoy themselves in a safe and nurturing environment and were themselves induced to react more favourably to police, and, in many cases, had greater confidence in approaching police with their domestic violence problems and other issues. Anecdotal evidence of this is very strong.
In 1989 Kelvin Glare, then Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police, introduced a “Police in Schools’ program. This program was highly successful until abolished by then Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon in 2005, a decision vehemently criticised by many including the Police Association (Union). Annexed hereto is a copy of a paper written by Ms Laurel Sutton of the Victoria Police which was presented at the conference “Partnerships in Crime Prevention”, convened jointly by the Australian Institute of Criminology and the National Campaign Against Violence and Crime held in Hobart, 25-27 February 1998. We commend this paper as succinctly encapsulating all the aspects of the Police in Schools program that made this program such an essential element in combating violence and crime. We regard the reintroduction of such a program as absolutely vital and urge an immediate reintroduction of a similar program.
Prevention is better than cure. Let’s call it, the Wait for the Act (WFTA) Syndrome. We must not wait for the crime to be committed and then provide Diversion. Wait for the Domestic Violence then divert males to Programs. Wait for the victims to suffer then Act. This WFTA Syndrome is the easy way out – it saves having to exercise, “those little grey cells” – Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.
It is trite but true to say that resourcing the present ever increasing demand for police and community services to fight domestic violence and crime is becoming increasingly difficult. If resourcing levels cannot be increased then it is only logical to try to reduce demand and or develop new initiatives, like our proposal to recruit retired Police.
We are totally committed to pressing for change of focus from reactive programs to proactive programs as the only intelligent way forward.
However, we acknowledge that under any system there will still be those who commit criminal offences. At present there are a number of diversionary programs of greater or lesser worth. We do not ask for their abandonment. What we do point out is that these programs are operated in almost complete isolation from each other. There is no clear overriding philosophy and absolutely no coordination. No effort is made to ensure that an offender is diverted to the most appropriate program to deal with her or his situation. Unfortunately, the Victoria Police have withdrawn almost all of their >support for these programs and a classic example is from the Blue Light Disco organization, which, among other projects, has an excellent facility at Derby Hill which regularly accommodates various school groups. The Victoria Police are missing a golden opportunity to reach out to young people.
Speaking of young people Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner McWhirter said recently, “There seems to be a huge gap in terms of the capacity to support them.” Our sentiments exactly.
Conclusion
What we are now doing as a society to combat domestic violence and addressing other critical social issues is ineffective and wasteful.
The cost benefit of proactive programs far outweighs the benefits of reactive programs.
We respectfully submit.
(1) Reintroducing a proven system of a “Police in Schools” program in Victoria is a necessary step in curbing domestic violence and crime.
(2) Implementing a coordinating authority to regulate the interaction between all existing reactive programs has the potential to better direct particular offenders to the most appropriate program with a corresponding saving in scarce resources.
Again, prevention is better than cure.
by CAA | Dec 5, 0201 | Library, Uncategorized
5th of December 2018
As a pre-eminent international police force prior to 2000, top Commissioners were “poached” to leadership roles in WA, QLD, SA and Tasmania. Then in 2001,a new imported systematically purged command of the 2 deputy and 5 assistant commissioners in a phobic ‘social engineering’ policy unilaterally refusing contract renewal and forcing premature retirement.
In parallel, skill and competency-based qualifications screening senior management was dispensed with (Inspectors and Executive courses), enabling promotion and recruitment, without challenge, of inexperienced, poorly qualified and poorly trained people.
The results speak for themselves.
Following this self-appraised reform of the crime department, failing to acknowledge ethnic crime, a softly, softly approach towards criminals and the premature promotion of those in favour and after eight years of nepotism – we reap what we sow! Gangs on our streets, a ‘no arrest’ focus, a community feeling unsafe and a Royal Commission into dubious investigation practices (which automatically raise warning bells in the newest of detectives).
The Royal Commission must have the power to address the root cause of this mis-management allowing poorly framed policies and poorly monitored systems to flourish. Leadership, the integrity of Victoria Police and the safety of our community must be restored to pre-eminence.