Good Governance and Good Government – Imperative for Victoria

by CAA | Sep 25, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

25th September 2018

OPEN LETTER TO ALL VICTORIANS

The Community Advocacy Alliance Inc. (CAA), formed over three and a half years ago,  is a body of citizens including retired very senior police, a wide range of business people, victim’s advocates and social workers who are concerned about a number of issues affecting Victorians.  The CAA set out to be apolitical and initially the CAA concentrated on suggesting reforms to the way in which the Victoria Police operated and on promoting changes to the criminal justice system.  Our efforts have been rebuffed by the Victoria Police and by the Government.  Our offer to consult with both is still open.

Putting aside for the moment the Law and Order issues, in light of the coming State Election we have identified the major issue, a need for ethical and honest government as an overarching necessity.

An examination of the present Government’s decisions, activities and performance discloses the Victorians have been let down in terms of governance and good government. Some of the activities are alleged to be criminal.

The real possibility is that if the current Government is returned a number of their elected members may face criminal charges including current Minsters. If that transpires and they are convicted the Government may be forced back to the polls and we Victorians will have to foot the bill, not to mention the disruption to Governance of our State.

The CAA invites all Victorians to bear these issues in mind when casting their vote at the next election.  We need good, ethical, honest and accountable government and must not settle for less.

Kelvin (Kel) Glare  AO  APM.

Chair, Community Advocacy Alliance Inc.

The missing elements (Les Twentyman HS 24/9/18)

by CAA | Sep 24, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

24th September 2018

The argument proffered by Les Twentyman on how we should treat young offenders  is however flawed and omits important steps in the process of accountability for young people.

The argument that Police not intervening in potentially violent events is the best strategy as intervention may increase violence is sadly a myth as it infers police are the instigators of the violence. It is however, their obligation that they must intervene to maintain law and order as their obligation is to the broader community. We have seen recently non-intervention spawns more disobedience.

The perpetrators instigate the violence by their civil disobedience. Civil compliance does not generate violence.

Often overlooked in commentary on perpetrators, particularly young people, is the Police Cautioning Program. Not to be confused with a Caution issued by the courts.

The Police Cautioning Program is in need of updating and should be properly resourced and  broadened substantially. Investing well in this program will be substantially cheaper and as statistics point out more effective than the Courts. Sadly, the program has seen a trend towards less use of this important tool over recent years, which correlates to the increase in crime. Research shows that the program has the best non-recidivism rates of any of the law enforcement functions as shown in the Crime Statistics Agency research.

There is no doubt that there is an important role for Youth workers to be an integral part of this process so that the Police Cautioning Program can build on its non-recidivism rate already better than  the courts best efforts.

The community wants lawlessness to be curtailed as it manifests but will support a program that helps correct young people’s behaviour without long-term consequences, but there must be some consequences.

Press reports give the impression that the number of cautions issued by the Courts is quite high so why not give the caution by Police and cut out all the waste.

We know that there is a better chance of the police caution working anyway.

Different Thinking – Drugs

by CAA | Sep 10, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

Drugs

Overview

The Community Advocacy Alliance (CAA) has accepted a challenge by Matt Johnston of the Herald Sun to apply different thinking to the Ice and by natural extension the entire illicit drug problem.

The CAA comprises retired executive police with over 300 years of experience, Social workers, Victims’ advocates, former and current lawyers, and representatives of the corporate and business sectors. The diversity of its experience is the CAA strength.

There is no debate that the present system and strategies have failed miserably and the growth of the drug epidemic rolls on unfettered.

Therefore, the basic premise of this paper is that what we are doing is failing and although this paper may not be the panacea, it cannot be any worse than what we are doing.

The first major premise is that the CAA believes the answer lies in the overall philosophical approach to the issue. The problem is not one of criminality, social issues, or health. It is all of these things and more, so we need to address the problem from an overall perspective.

The CAA draws upon the philosophy behind marketing, “Supply and Demand.”

Anybody who has any experience with the free market concepts will cite many examples of where demand spawns the supply and where demand diminishes so does supply. An excellent example is the growth of the illicit tobacco industry and the introduction of chop-chop into the market. A demand  created for a cheaper alternative to retail cigarettes and an illicit industry blossomed. It was not that long ago that chop-chop was a minor part of this industry with very few people accessing or knowing how to access the product.

Targeting the end user (Demand) rather than the cigarette manufactures (Supply) making smoking socially unacceptable has been a highly successful strategy.

Tackling the demand side is the only effective way of achieving any meaningful inroads to reducing the prevalence and availability of illicit drugs. Where demand slows the initial impact on the supply line will be to cut overheads and reduce cost. This will inevitably lead to fewer supply lines as they become uneconomical. That we are talking about criminal activity makes no difference criminals  are in the illicit drug business for the easy riches and the lifestyle..

To understand this drug problem some truths that must be exposed.

• To become addicted takes more than one experiment in the vast majority of cases so addiction is a path sought, not an accident.
• Addicts are generally in denial about their addiction “I am in control I am not addicted – I can stop at any time if I wanted”.
• The vast majority of drug users are addicts ,
• The vast majority of addicts service their addiction by criminal activity
• By far and away, most addicts are drug pushers.
• Drug addicts enjoy their drug lifestyle – it is as addictive sometimes as the drug. No responsibilities – no work – no family pressure – loads of cash the night life the girls the tough men, the excitement and mystique of the bikes it is like living a dream for many – the ultimate cop out.
• The first step for recovery of an addict is to admit they are addicted
• Drug addicts are accomplished manipulators and liars and this trait does the most harm to the addict’s family. Believe nothing a drug addict has to say.
• A drug addict cannot be rehabilitated until they decide they want to be. The best that can be done is to encourage that path and make the option of addiction less palatable.
• Drug taking and addiction can in many cases surface while a child is still at Primary School.

Our plan has many new and original ideas and revamps many that have been successful in the past. It will need some new money from the government but is aimed at redirecting existing funding rather than new.

We have no doubt that there are many worthwhile projects that deserve support and inclusion but we have to start somewhere and build a framework that can accommodate other initiatives. As these initiatives are implemented, we will see other programs included, both existing and future.

A major issue is that current anti-addiction/drugs programs are not coordinated. Everybody is doing his or her own thing.

As a community we have no method to manage and ensure that drug addicts are accessing proper medical care. Obversely we have no idea if the appropriate care is extended to the younger people who have the propensity to be susceptible to becoming involved with in the allure of the drug scene. Equally, in Law Enforcement it is essential that all the effort is not biased toward recidivists or major suppliers at the expense of preventative work to reduce the demand.

To achieve a better outcome the CAA has designed a framework so that the various functions can be included and where there is a gap that gap can be filled whether by redirecting resources from a more heavily resourced area or creating new programs.

More importantly the various programs can be subjected to ongoing assessment to ensure relevance and to ensure the objectives set are being met.

The CAA welcomes constructive criticism of this initiative but absolutely rejects any criticism that is not accompanied by an alternative. Criticism for criticisms sake is pointless anyway.

Part 1

Before the problem.

• Pre School
•     Parent Training –

Parenting is the most important job anybody can take on in their life and is about the only one for which there is no Degree, Certificate IV, or anything else. Most new parents rely on life experiences, which can be problematic.

Introducing training, in particular as it relates to their Child’s social development, is best done at the times when the parents are most focused on their child and forward-looking.

At this critical time in a child’s development, (in reality and in particular in the minds of the parents) is at pre-school or immediately when they start Primary School.

Basic training in behavioral and development issues are best delivered by a clinician in child behavioral discipline.

A three night by two-hour session for all parents organised by the school aimed at the prep grade children’s parents should be adequate and marketed as quasi mandatory. The police members working at the school as part of the PISP can be introduced to the parents as a potential resource. That introduction would be critical as it portrays the relationship in the various disciplines. A new initiative organised by all primary Schools.

• Grade 3-4

• Police In Schools Program –

The primary focus of the Police in Schools Program (PISP) should be on these formative years where social skills can be addressed, as can anti-social behaviours. Basic concepts of right and wrong together with social responsibilities in a structured program delivered by trained Police School Resource Officers (SRO) can have a positive lasting effect on the development of children at this age.

The Child’s personal safety skills can start to be developed creating basic situational awareness techniques.

Although the focus of the SROs is on the grades 3-4 they have a much broader function within the school community. SROs become a reference point for concerned parents whether it relates to a child or their own personal circumstance like domestic violence or illicit drug use within their family or neighbourhood.

The SROs become an integral part of each school community they manage and can be an early warning resource for a number of community risk factors.

Victoria Police should reintroduce this essential program. which should extend throughout the school life of every student.

The following proposals should be considered in light of this requirement

• Grade 5-6

• Blue Light

As young people start to think about developing their social skills, fly the coop, to the exclusion of their parents, the core function of Blue Light becomes evident. Designed for young people to enjoy social events free from alcohol, violence and drugs the Blue Light Disco program provides a safe environment that parents find acceptable and the young people relate to, a rare phenomenon at this age.

Supervised and run by off duty police members supported by other emergency Service Personnel and community volunteers the program has many positives too numerous to list here. Providing a safe space for these early developments is essential. Victoria Police should re-engage with Blue Light in a positive way.

Blue Light Discos make a profit and the money is channelled back into the community, an often overlooked advantage of the program. With the reintroduction of SROs and Embedded Police Officers (Secondary School EPOs) the money can be channelled to assist them directly contributing to the community they serve giving added value to their function.

• Blue light youth camp

An extension of the Blue Light program, the Maldon Blue Light Youth camp provides structured activities and while having fun is an essential part of any adventure camp the underlying focus of Derby Hill is Safety, Independence and Road Safety and integrates with the Bike-Ed program developed within the Primary Schools. The camps capacity needs to be substantially increased from about 4000 children per year at this site or an additional site established  to allow the advantages of this program to be wide enough to have substantial impact. Victoria Police need to re-engage with the Youth Camp in a positive way.

• Operation New Start

Another youth program from which Victoria Police disengaged some years ago needs to be reconnected. The strategies developed by the New Start Program can be applied to students in the primary system already showing signs of disengagement from education. Irrespective of whether it is the child’s problems or problems at home, Operation New Start can engage troubled young people early and outside the school gate, beyond the limitation of educators.

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• Heading out Heading home

A unique program developed by the Night Club Industry is an ideal vehicle to commence drug minimisation and risk taking hopefully before the children are exposed to illicit drugs. The content may not be to everybody’s taste but letting young people know what they could possibly be ingesting at this early stage in their social development and when they are starting to be very body conscious has substantial merit. That it is delivered by people in the Night Club Industry gives the message credibility in the eyes of the students.

• Police Cautioning Program

A revamped Police Cautioning program used to intervene in any criminal or anti-social activity by young people is a corner stone of diversion. Introducing punitive penalties agreed to by the parent and the cautioning Officer can be very effective. From losing their phone for a week to curfews, or school detentions could form the arsenal of sanctions but creative additions would be encouraged. Critically, with the parent’s or guardians’ consent the School class coordinator or other appropriate school official could be invited to join the process, as should the SRO from the Primary School and where appropriate the Operation New Start representative. The child can see that their behaviour is not acceptable to a broad cross section of authority figures. As participation in the process of a caution is an invitation by police as an alternative to Court, the police and the Parents have substantial freedom to find creative ways to teach the child that their behaviour has undesirable consequence. Should the child offend again the consequences should increase.

If a child develops into a recidivist then the courts must acknowledge the function and importance of the Police Cautioning Program and determine sentence on the basis that the child has already received two or three cautions before arriving at Court. The Courts in appropriate circumstances could refer children back to the police Cautioning program freeing up Court time.

Critical to the success of this program is that the child is cautioned within a relatively short time of being detected committing an offence. To expedite matters a full brief is not required and a simplified approval process would see the child processed and cautioned within seven days. The timing is a critical factor in the success or otherwise of this program.

• Year 7-8

• Parental training (Secondary)

An extension of the early training program by Clinicians applied to parenting an adolescent or young adult. A difficult time for most parents training at this stage alerting parents to what they may be confronted with as the child matures and develops through puberty at a critical point in their development.

How to deal with children testing their boundaries and how to manage risk taking behaviours including drugs and alcohol.

• Police in schools (Secondary)

Embedded Police Officers (EPOs) in Secondary Schools is a major initiative that will have substantial influence on young people as they move through the secondary education system. The benefits are not too hard to identify but above all else the role model these police will provide is invaluable. The EPOs working with the SROs can provide continuing management of problematic young people. EPOs will develop lifelong influences on young people and be a critical support mechanism for young people who find themselves victims of crime or anti-social behaviour. As with SROs, EPOs will perform functions that currently fall unfairly on the shoulders of educators who are sometimes ill equipped to manage some problems and are restricted to the school gate minimising their impact. Police can and will follow up at the child’s home with whatever action or additional services that may need to be applied.

• Police Cautioning Program

A continuation of this program in secondary years is critical to divert young people and additional resources and research must be applied to improve the effectiveness and success rate of this program. The program has been derided by sectors of the legal community claiming police have no role to play in the dispensing of justice. These critics are clearly basing their position on self-interest not the interest of the young people. The legal system cannot fairly claim the moral high ground in this debate. Enough jurists have not covered themselves with glory in their deliberations and outcomes to support that claim. It may however be a sound strategy to have a senior Jurist as a consultant to the project as it needs to be expanded dramatically. This would gain credibility within the legal fraternity and bridge the current gap between the program and the legal system.

• Operation New Start

Although a labour intensive program, it nevertheless can save the community many thousands of dollars by taking care of the worst and most likely young people who disengage from education, far too often prematurely. Coordinated with the Police Cautioning Program this very effective program needs to be resourced properly. Victoria Police disengaged from Operation New Start some time ago but the program in an abridged version continues in a limited fashion. However the architects and managers of the scheme need to be consulted on the best way forward. The potential for Service Clubs to become actively involved in this program should be explored.

• Year 11-12

• Heading out Heading Home

Conducted as a field trip this program can alert young people to the dangers of illicit drugs as well as educate them on the protocols of going out. The session held at a (Closed) Night Club is likely to have greater penetration than if the subject was delivered in the classroom. Young people see the people involved in the Night Club Industry as having credibility on this subject. Understanding what constitutes bad behaviour at these venues has a ‘knock on’ effect to the child’s behavioural development. Contrary to critics who claim it is encouraging young people to attend Night Clubs, there is no evidence to support that theory. Most responsible people however would rather their offspring venture to a well-controlled Night Club when old enough, as opposed to a party in a short-term rental property without controls or walking the streets meeting in parks or other public places after hours.

• Police and Citizens Youth Clubs

A highly effective program that operates in nearly every other State but is limited to just one club in Victoria that has little connection with police, the PCYC is a program worth exploring.

Although initial set up costs can be substantial the clubs usually become self-sufficient in a very short time. Clubs have substantial gym equipment and the commercial use of the Gym offsets running costs and usually returns a healthy profit that can be channelled back into youth programs often funding youth worker outreach work. The demand for safe Gyms for adults, particularly for females, is very important and the PCYCs fill a gap. At least clients of the club can be assured that their Gym is not surreptitiously run by Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs or other organised crime. With the support of the Government and police a working party should examine and provide a frame work for the development of PCYCs for Victoria. Another piece to the puzzle.

• Marketing the message

• Marketing philosophy

As a child is exposed through the various stages of this strategy a consistent reinforcement of the message associated with the risk of experimenting or being associated with drugs needs to be reinforced by constant reminders of the risks. Reinforcing the risks at every opportunity supports parents and young people but it is essential that a common simple message is portrayed wit uniform graphics whether the messages are on the back of toilet doors  attached to school communications posters where young people traverse the message must be simple and clear and directly aimed at discouraging experimentation. “Would you put this in your body” with graphics of the various undesirable products detected in illicit drugs particularly party drugs.

• Point of sale

Using the techniques of the advertising industry with point of sale advertising these principles can be applied to this issue and would be incredibly cost effective as the material once displayed would be anticipated to have a substantial shelf life. The familiarity of the same message exposure at multiple places over an extended period (years) can impact and change behaviours.

Part 2

Addressing the problem

• Young Drivers

• Adult Driver Cautioning program.

A paper entitled, “Lose your licence lose, your life” prepared by the CAA on this subject is attached for reference but in summary the idea is to make the penalties imposed on young drivers commensurate with the offence. Minor offences need to be dealt with compassionately, not draconian penalties that far too often ruin people’s lives. Having penalties imposed that are determined by legislation that exceed the penalties regularly dispensed for serious criminal activity is unjust and breeds contempt for authority.

The impact on young drivers can be catastrophic as they generally lose their job (in many cases apprenticeships that they do not return to) so they cannot pay their fines or maintain the payments on their car or compliance fees. It creates a vicious circle that often spirals the young person towards less desirable behaviours. They are confronted with what appear to be insurmountable problems for which there is no solution or way out.

Restricting car use using technology could be part of the deterrent for a breach of the road law. Allowing minor traffic offenders to drive at certain times and places, for example, to work, school or for other legitimate but not social purposes could be administered through an expanded police cautioning program freeing up expensive Court time. A driver would need to elect to be cautioned so they agree to conditions or other penalties imposed by the Police Cautioning Officer. If the driver is aggrieved by the Caution conditions or they breach the agreed conditions they can elect to be or can be referred to the Magistrates Court.

The solution to managing breaches to this program could be as simple as installing a low cost timer or tracking device on the driver’s vehicle.

It seems crazy that we impose penalties that cause so much harm and have such a detrimental effect on the work capacity of drivers and such an adverse economic impact particularly on the welfare bill for relatively minor matters. Surely, this was not a deliberate strategy but unintended consequences. Are we that cruel? See attachment.

• New Drug Strategy

• Targeted policing.

This change in direction does not recommend that the attention to drug cartels and other major players in the drug industry should be curtailed but a balance back toward more effectively dealing with the end user or customer and low level dealers must be the new focus.

Tackling the problem from the bottom removes or reduces demand causing more grief to the kingpins who then have to move their operations closer to the market eliminating steps in the process to save on overheads risking exposure.

Dealing with the problem at street level needs a mechanism to expeditiously process offenders and reduce the veil of anonymity and apparent indemnity from prosecution.

A useful analogy is policing itself. If you want to have an ineffective police service, reduce the numbers of police at the bottom end. The result is an unsustainable bloating at the top, which must ultimately be shrunk to replace the Police on the coalface. Simple structural realities. When applied to the drug trade, market forces do the job. Rather than external intervention which is the inevitable result needed in a bureaucracy to correct misalignment. Reducing demand for drugs will achieve the same outcome in that industry.

• Drug Cautioning Program

Similar to other adult police cautioning a drug cautioning Officer is supported by a clinician to respond to the welfare both physical and mental of the offender. Under this program offenders can be directed to attend assessment interviews recommended by a participating Clinician and agree to non-association conditions identified in the cautioning process.

We need to pressure addicts to identify their suppliers with an advantage to the addict if they do. We understand that the information generally available from an addict is of little intelligence value as it will be generally something like:” I get my shit from Travis, I ring him and he meets me”. The phone number will be to a throwaway and the supplier who is streetwise will be difficult to trace. The process is more aimed at putting pressure on the supplier and help drive the trade underground off the streets making operations difficult and reducing exposure of the illicit  trade to our kids.

We continue to be amazed that the trade is allowed to flourish out in the open exposing all to its evil. Community leaders tend somehow to be unresponsive to this overt trading, as is the hierarchy of Police.

Lack of police action is a direct contradiction of the aims of policing and the Mission Statement for Victoria Police. Driving the problem underground may remove the exposure of ordinary citizens using toilets or going about their business not having to avoid used syringes and other paraphernalia let alone drug addicts off their face or ice addicts strutting around without their shirts, on the cusp of turning violent.

We suggest dozens of low-level dealers could be apprehended every day at present if Police carried out their sworn duty.

• Drugs Impact on Road Safety.

The actual impact on road safety is not exactly known but anecdotally police members are convinced the problem is far greater than we are led to believe. The over focus on alcohol presumably masks the true depth of the drug problem. One example that we all see on our roads from time to time is the lunatic weaving through the traffic hanging out the window usually without a shirt on, irrespective of the weather. Those in the know realise this person is high on Ice. The current option of calling 000 is a waste of time as the job is rarely is ever tasked or followed up, reinforcing the perception that even Police are not interested in following up on addicts.

The ability for the public to report this type and other bad road behaviours and have some action taken is now counter intuitive to the mantra of policing asking for public help in other areas. We accept that often the public do not provide sufficient information and encouraging them to get the registration number could encourage risk.. However there needs to be follow up and an explanation to the complainant as to the outcome of the reported incident.

Next time that member of the public might witness something more than an errant driver and their cooperation is critical.

• Drug ID Legislation

Essential to bring pressure on dealers is a concept that when a drug addict progresses through the legal process there are two requirements mandated for assessing sentencing. The first is that they must identify their supplier and secondly being effected by self-induced drugs cannot be used to mitigate their criminal behaviour.

The need also exists for powers for Police to compulsorily drug test every suspect or person charged so that the true depth and breadth of the issue can be measured.

This approach also can pressure the addict into admitting their addiction, step one in any chance of rehabilitation. A positive result must be followed by a charge in relation to the use of the drug making it more difficult for the denial of the addict to continue. It is also essential that the courts record a conviction based on the test making denial even more difficult. The ability to require many addicts to confront their addiction that they try to hide of itself will act as a deterrent. The courts and the corrections system can then know in advance the drug status of the addict.

• Jail / secure facility – A New Paradigm.

The creation of a Drugs and Mental Health Facility (DAMHF) has a number of advantages. It can address overcrowding of jails and the likely flow on to the penal system from this drug initiative will provide the essential expanded capacity for the prison system. Rather than simply construct another jail along the lines of the current models developing and building a high capacity dormitory style facility that is secured by Corrections staff, aided by substantial electronic security systems, but where detainees are treated as patients managed by clinicians. Providing a structured day for the inmates, the facility would house both long term and short-term prisoners/patients. It should be deigned to deal with long term mentally ill inmates whose period of detention managed by clinicians and have the capacity to deal with short-term drug addicts.

Not designed to be the sole rehabilitation centre for addicts but a piece of the rehabilitation process. This facility could take the weight off Corrections and lead to better outcomes for the community and inmates alike. At last, there would be a facility that could house people who are too ill to be left to their own devices (a current cruel practise) or house ill people who pose too greater risk to be immediately released back into the community

• Mandatory detention for addicts.

Although at first glance draconian, this concept may be the best method to dramatically reduce the number of drug addicts in society. It is well recognised that the only drug addict that can be reformed is one that wants to be, otherwise nothing known works. Lies and false promise from an addict are part and parcel of the process but nothing will change until a decision is made voluntarily.

Mandatory short term sentences will achieve a number of positives.

• Addicts can be assessed both physically and mentally.
• The short stay gives the opportunity for the addict to break the nexus of their addiction both socially and physically.
• An addict will not want to go through the withdrawal process for a second time and if they do they may be encouraged more easily to follow an alternate path making appropriate decisions.
• The drug supplier to the addict or pusher will not know whether their identity has been given to Police making life difficult for them. A former addict supports the potential The ‘yo–yo’ effect experienced by recidivist in and out of the facility. This will create pressure and opportunity for addicts to opt out of their addiction. Ending up in jail every few weeks can be a powerful incentive to seek rehabilitation.
• Families can have some short respite from the addict.

Serving a nominal sentence will give the addict a chance to clean up physically and be engaged in useful structured activity that may help clear their mind while under the supervision of a clinician. If their mental health has deteriorated dramatically, the powers of the Mental Health Act can be applied to treat the person.

• Medication intervention.

There are a raft of potential medications that are claimed to have very high success rates in treating addictions both opiate and methamphetamine (Ice).

Drugs like Nalaxone, Buorenophine, Naltrexone, Metazapine, Modafinil, all claim to achieve positive outcomes, and in South Australia, they have developed a Matrix Model Treatment initiative that claims outstanding results. Whether anybody in Victoria is seriously looking at these new approaches is not clear but they must be explored with vigour as the community and the addicts do not have time to wait. At the very least, the community is entitled to know whether these issues are being examined, by whom and what time lines are applied.

• Researching the problem

Most of the research on the causes of drug addiction are about as effective as spray painting a house on a very windy day – ends up all over the place. When it comes down to what specifically can be done and what levels of result will be achieved over what period the research is found wanting. The majority of research comes up with glib findings blaming socio economic problems un-defined.

This initiative of a secure facility will give the opportunity for accurate data to be compiled from addicts in a controlled environment while they are addicted and can be accumulated as part of the assessment process.

Research gathered by this method will provide the indicators to create specific strategies and modify existing strategies to have a far more targeted impact of the drug problem.

• Marketing to attack the problem

The role of marketing to the addict is of equal importance as advertising targeting prevention. Clever and creative marketing reinforcing the need for addicts to admit addiction should be the target,

 “If you use an illicit drug every day you are addicted”-

“If you cannot go more than ? hours without a hit you are addicted. no if’s no buts”.

“If most of your friends are addicts, so are you”

“Do drugs and die”.

Admission of addiction is the first step to rehabilitation and the power of advertising can play a pivotal role.

A, “what have you become campaign,” could also be effective and equally act as a deterrent.

Many years ago, Police Life ran a series of articles publishing (with permission) Police photographs (Mug shots) of a drug addict taken over a few years highlighting the deterioration in the person. After the pictures were published, the addict sought and successfully completed rehabilitation and as far as we know went on to a drug free life.

This example highlights the importance of addicts confronting their reality and visual prompts are the key.

Everywhere an addict goes they should be confronted with a consistent message..

Making Drug addicts the pariah’s of society and socially unacceptable similar to the success of the anti-smoking strategy has every chance of working in particular if the focus is on role models addicts may relate to.

• The addicts family

We once wrote to the father of an addict who was at his wits end trying to deal with the manipulation, lying and stealing that was being imposed on his family by an addicted son. Our advice was, “You are grieving because the son you nurtured and looked after, took to his first day at school and shared all the other milestones of his life is not the person masquerading as your son – he is an impostor your son would never treat you like that. We can only hope that circumstance change and your son returns but until that time we suggest you distance yourself and do not connect with the imposter.” As difficult as that distancing is for a parent it is often the only viable alternative.

A series of seminar/workshops should be organised by Government, involving clinicians, police and the judiciary to provide advice and options for parents living through the nightmare of an addict in their family.

Conclusion

The drug problems requires action not just rhetoric and this document provides a plan for that action.

It is worthy of note that this plan can dovetail into the Victoria Police Association policing priorities 2017-2022 , “Your Safety Our Priority”.. That the CAA and the TPAV are not poles apart in their views is not insignificant, arriving at similar recommendations independently adds more weight to the recommendations of both organisations.

This strategy has five objectives

• Reduce the risk of young people experimenting with drugs.

• Reinforce the criminality of the illicit drug trade as opposed to the attraction to better lifestyle.

• Force the drug trade underground to reduce exposure to our young people.

• Create environment where the addicts are forced to accept they are addicted.

• Provide opportunities for addicts to undertake rehabilitation.

The problem is getting worse, not better and the traditional approach is failing both the addicts and the community.

It will fall to the politicians to provide the leadership and create the structure for the community if we are going to make a meaningful impact on this issue.

As this paper was prepared it became very obvious that new Authority with wide ranging powers and authority needs to be established to put these and other worthy initiatives in place and ensure duplication is avoided and only the most effective programs draw the bulk of the funding.

A very pragmatic approach by an authority that can quickly respond to market variables and be flexible enough to change direction as required based generally on empirical data but sometimes less scientific rationale that is obvious.

Programs that are nice to do, must be subject to critical analysis, and if they do not stack up exclude from the mainstream strategy.

Non-Partisan pragmatism is what will achieve change.

In Victoria Free Speech Costs Us All

by CAA | Sep 10, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

10th September 2018

The Community Advocacy Alliance (CAA) today expressed its grave concern at a worrying development in Victorian policing. Namely VicPol attempting to extract thousands of dollars from the organisers of events and public addresses which are entirely legal, held indoors by invitation or ticket and where no offences are committed by the patrons.

The decision to charge the organisers (and not those who cause the resources to be deployed) a fee for holding an address by a visiting and leading British and European MP, Nigel Farage, is appalling. That his address attracted the usual grab bag of left wing activists and anarchists who caused significant public and traffic disruption in a “Public Place” was properly anticipated.

That the Victorian Taxpayer pays for Policing already for policing in “Public Places” is something that must elude Victoria Police. Who does VicPol think ultimately pays for this service.

To in effect charge citizens to attend a private event is dangerous in the extreme. It is in effect an assault on free speech, a fundamental right of all Australians but not it seems a right of people living in this State.

Not to mention the double impost of paying Police to police the “Public Place” by paying taxes and then paying in their ticket again for the same service.

The Victorian public demands an explanation from Police Command as to its policy and its justification for charging  organisers of peaceful events such as the recent address by Canadian, Lauren Southern or last night’s address on Brexit and its economic and political implications for Europe by a British politician. Yet not charging the recent event at Collingwood which was the commercial launch of a record resulting in riotous behaviour.

(Apart from the obvious there are other messages in this spread sheet)

Friday night was not a good one for me. My club Geelong was hit by the Demons and Victorian taxpayers were hit for attempting to enjoy “free” speech something that is anything but free in this State!

72,000 lost shifts – Police victim blaming

by CAA | Sep 3, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

3rd September 2018

The latest police sick leave figures (HS 30/9/18) are unbelievable and equates to nearly 350 shifts lost per week.

With these sorts of numbers, you would have thought the penny might drop with the Government that VicPol has structural problems and should address those before victim blaming.

The problem predominantly is the organisation not the police members.

Selecting only the most suitable recruits will solve little if the structure of the organisation is flawed.

Teaching senior staff how to help staff is a bit off. Apart from the obvious question as to how they became senior staff without that basic of all management skills infers that VicPol wants to dodge the real cause, structural problems.

The Governments only answer is to recruit more police, when will real action be taken, when the lost shifts achieve 100,000?

Somebody clone that man

by CAA | Sep 1, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

1st September 2018

Sergeant Wayne Taylor (Herald Sun 1/9/18) is the sort of cop that should be cloned not pilloried.

Talk to any police member serving or retired and they will relate stories of prolific thief catchers like Sergeant Taylor. Most Police are in awe of their uncanny ability, which by the way ,only comes from dedicated and focused hard work.

But according to VicPol this skill type is of no consequence or worthy of consideration because of a poorly designed , risk adverse pursuit policy that has dogged the Force for years including contributing to the horrific outcomes in Bourke Street.

The public should rightly be outraged at the treatment of this Sergeant that may well end his career and we are not referring so much to the outcome as the process he is enduring.

It would seem that the speed he was travelling at, necessary to do his job, is the main bone of contention.

Exceeding the speed limit or breaking any road rules by a Police member in the execution of their duty should follow the same principles as using a firearm. The speed may need to be justified, but only in light of all the circumstances including the actions of perpetrators. Police are driving very safe motor cars and many police like Sergeant Taylor possess a high level of driving experience in these circumstances.

The community supports the Sergeant- he is the type of police we want to protect us.

Courts get it Right – really?

by CAA | Aug 16, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

16th August 2018

Herald Sun 16^th August 18.

The Sentencing Advisory Board claims that because only 3% of sentences in our Courts are appealed the Judiciary have it right – right for whom?

Crooks are hardly likely to appeal weak low-grade sentences and the Crown rarely lodges appeals only doing so in the most egregious injustices.

That accused persons (crooks) are not appealing is hardly a ringing endorsement of our sentencing regime.

Perhaps the judiciary should look at more meaningful statistics like the recidivism of those convicted and sentenced. The only problem the Judged will all be from the same pool that has not served us well.

Time for all the sentencing guidelines and advisories to be scrapped and let Judges decide on penalty based on the evidence before them. Each judge can then be accountable for the recidivism rates of their courts sentencing.

When 30% of all cases are appealed then we know things are closer to about Right!

Mixing School kids with prisoners not worth the risk

by CAA | Aug 14, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

14th August 2018
The exposure of VCE Legal Studies Students to prisoners must stop.

The use of prisoners to talk to children as some form of education is absolutely flawed for more than one reason – Impressionable young people can be incorrectly influenced by charismatic prisoners gaining their respect and the prisoners gain a sense of authority when they are the failed souls of our society. Prisoners are the absolutely antipathy of the types of character our children should be exposed to.

The spinning of stories by criminals no matter how controlled will always have the potential of negative impacts on some students – the risk well outweighs the perceived advantages. Students may want to know what it is like in jail but do they need to know?

Trying to remove the mystique of jail reduces its deterrent effect.

Couldn’t a Prison Officer give an account of jail life to students at their school if they really must know?

Win back the streets

by CAA | Aug 11, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

11th August 2018
The problems with the thugs of African appearance causing so much angst and damage in our society can be sheeted back to one cause.
A flawed policing strategy first enunciated in the 2000,s and most recently again at the Moomba Riots in 2016.
The Police focus was on “Restoring Law and Order” and that part of their strategy is fine but they omitted the other essential component, arresting perpetrators. If they are arrested their involvement ceases immediately.
The perpetrators do not see the unlikely prospect of Police knocking on their door as a result of CCTV identification sometime in the future as much of a deterrent. By the present process arrests usually number in the low single figures and aimed at the main perpetrators but the rest of the mob just continue on ignoring social norms and the Law.
The strategy of simply dispersing and restoring order has spawned a belief with the perpetrator’s that they are untouchable and that will spawn more disorder. Once the untouchable phenomena becomes the norm no other police or community strategy will turn this issue around.
How you win back the streets is to ensure there are immediate consequences for gross social violent misbehaviour. We do not need more Laws or more police. Arresting perpetrators at the time of the incident will quickly disperse the not so committed and they are unlikely to come out again if there is a good chance they will be arrested. Without a crowd behind them even the most strident perpetrators interest will wane.
A Police line backed up by arrest teams is the only solution.

The cost of free speech in Victoria

by CAA | Aug 5, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

5th August 2018
Retired senior police officers, victims of crime, social workers and business people say freedom of speech is a right of all Australians and its expression should not be discouraged by financial considerations as might be the situation emerging in Victoria.

The Community Advocacy Alliance’s position follows a recent decision by Victoria Police to charge an overseas social commentator, Lauren Southern, $68,000 for its attendance outside a venue she was speaking at in Melbourne’s Northern suburbs.

Chairman of the CAA, retired chief police commissioner Kel Glare said there was a significant difference between events such as an AFL match where police are deployed to patrol inside the stadium and the Lauren Southern situation where those exercising their right of lawful free speech needed to be protected from protestors outside trying to prevent a private event proceeding through violent direct action which included wilful damage and disrupting hundreds of motorists in the Somerton area through their closure of a major arterial, the Hume Highway

“We accept Police services being charged if an event is intended as a profitable enterprise and policing is required inside a venue. We do however have a problem of police charging for services in a public place and outside a venue irrespective if it’s a commercial activity or not.

“The Alliance has written to Police Minister, Lisa Neville, expressing its concern and the need for a clear separation of powers between Government and Police.

“Victorians already pay for a Police Service whose duties include protecting people attending a lawful event. In two recent cases the organisers of two lawful events in Melbourne have been served invoices for thousands of dollars in contrast to the perpetrators of violent action who escaped any costs but against whom considerable police resources had to be deployed. Under the present Government interpretations Victoria could arrive at the ludicrous situation where Police might charge political parties in this state for holding a political function if it’s the subject of a protest”

The Community Advocacy Alliance is a non profitable organisation which is active in raising issues and initiatives directed at improving law and order in Victoria and making the State a safer place for all Victorians.

250,000 dodgy breath tests Corrupt behaviour?

by CAA | May 31, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

31st May 2018

The startling inaccuracy in the number of actual Breath Tests conducted in Victoria has every Victorian rightly concerned about just what is going on with Victoria Police that this sort of activity can fester and grow.

It is very encouraging that the new head of Police Ethical standards is looking at the management processes that failed to identify or manage this problem rather than the Police on the street who felt pressured to undertake rorting the system for which their only benefit may be avoiding a bollicking for not meeting quotas.

Perhaps Assistant Commissioner Barrett should look at the relationship between VicPol and TAC. TAC presumably is the instrument of government that negotiates on their behalf the quotas of Breath Tests or targets but Vicpol seems to accept the conditions of the negotiating without due consideration of the organisations capacity to deliver and the negative impact these quotas will have on the organisations capacity to deliver an overall effective Police service.

Largess offered and accepted by Vicpol executives from TAC may be the root cause. Accepting any gratuity from an opposing entity in negotiation a contract puts you at a disadvantage.

Overreach by VicPol to reward TAC for their generosity they may have provided, is corrupt behaviour.

A glimmer of change in Policing Victoria

by CAA | May 28, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

25th May 2018

The establishment of the Task Force “Wayward” headed up by a Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Kahan at Footscray Police Station sees a seismic shift in Policing philosophies for Victoria.
These initiatives are an application of the Victoria Police’s own Mission Statement based on the ‘Peelian principles’ of modern policing and now Victoria Police has started to move in this direction thanks to one Detective Senior Sergeant.
Victoria was a leader in this Policing concept for more than two decades until 2001when this approach started to be dismantled. The most obvious sign that change was occurring was the dismantling of all Police Youth programs leading to a police disconnect with youth the ramifications are still being felt today.
Reactive policing soon became the norm and was accompanied by a dramatic increase in crime. Effectively police waited for the crime to be committed then took action. The apparent growth in incidents where police take a passive non-interventional approach allowing the continuation of crime is a relatively new phenomena and is a worrying development. The concept of preventing or the continuation of crime has generally evaporated.
Proactive policing is often derided as being soft on crime or’ kiddie policing’. However, proponents of this policing strategy and history will tell you it is not being soft on crime. Criminals are pursued with the same vigour aided by improved intelligence from the community. And yes, it does focus on younger people but what it does do is try very hard to stop many Victorians from becoming victims as Brett Kahan is demonstrating.
Victoria Police or Police anywhere, will tell you that the proactive options are far harder work than simply being reactive because in the later model police are investigating crimes already exposed. Alternatively, proactive police must try to second-guess the community to prevent the crime in the first place, before it is committed.
There will always be a function of reactive policing in Victoria as it should be but the pendulum needs to move substantially towards a better proactive reactive equipoise.
The CAA has been advocating for over three years to have Victoria Police adopt modern policing philosophies and honour their own Mission Statement.
We have had no success and have been pilloried and ridiculed for presenting this view.
We can only imagine how difficult it is for police members in Victoria to engage in and support this philosophy.
Congratulations Brett Kahan and we wish you and your colleagues well and on behalf of all Victorians, thank you.

Judicial Committee – essential for Victoria

by CAA | May 20, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

20th May 2018

The recent decision of the Victorian Court of Appeal to ignore imposing the mandatory term of imprisonment on two offenders who violently assaulted a Paramedic highlights the need for a higher level of accountability for judicial officers.
The counter argument that there can always be an appeal against sentences imposed, or not imposed, is disingenuous as many considerations kerb that course of action, including the cost of a further appeal.
The real issue is the lack of real accountability of the judiciary. Judicial officials must reflect the sentencing regime of a democratically elected Parliament that sets parameters for available sentences.
Murder, where a convicted offender may receive a life sentence, rarely with more than a lenient minimum term to be served, is the only occasion where a maximum sentence is sometimes imposed. We challenge anyone to identify any other case in the past twenty five years in Victoria that attracted the maximum sentence, despite the often long criminal history of the offender. Courts consistently and persistently thumb their collective noses at Parliament’s wishes. How many convictions must an offender have before a maximum sentence is imposed?
How can this wonton disregard of our elected Parliaments be tolerated? This continued behaviour is a systemic abuse of the separation of powers and is contempt of our Parliament.
The path to a solution must be to make judicial officials at all levels of courts accountable for their actions. This can be achieved through a Judicial Committee established on bipartisan lines that would inter alia require that those presiding in courts do more to meet community expectations. Those officiating who do not should be called to account.
A necessary corollary is that the appointment of judicial officials must be by contract so that those who act as a law unto themselves can have their services terminated at the end of a contract period.
In the United States many judges are elected officials. If community standards are not met they are most unlikely to be re-elected. We do not advocate this for Victoria but greater accountability must be achieved if the general populace is to continue to respect our courts.

Mandatory goal terms for attacks on Ambo’s and Police

by CAA | May 20, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

20th May 2018
BRING IN MANDATORY GAOL TERMS FOR ATTACKS ON AMBULANCE AND POLICE OFFICERS

The Community Advocacy Alliance (CAA) today called on the Victorian Government to move immediately to amend legislation covering assaults and attacks on Police, Ambulance and Emergency Service personnel.

The Alliance which comprises retired senior police, victims of crime and citizens drawn from the business community is active in pursuing best practice in Policing and changes to Victoria’s bail laws, sentencing practices, parole applications as well as the need for more proactive policing in dealing with youth crime.

Chairman of CAA and retired Chief Police Commissioner, Kel Glare, said enough is enough with the recent decision by Judge Barbara Cotterell, which saw two offenders convicted of attacking and severely injuring an ambulance officer walk away with community correction orders, being the last straw for Victorians.

“Victorians have been clearly if not deliberately misled into thinking mandatory meant mandatory when the Government introduced legislation covering these offences. Presented by the Andrews Government as providing mandatory gaol time for anyone who assaulted and/or injured an ambulance or police officer it had embedded in it three get out of gaol cards by way of three special provisions the judiciary could deploy enabling an offender to avoid a prison sentence if he or she was alcohol affected, drug affected or had a mental health issue, he said

“ In March the Premier wrote to the CAA following a raft of issues concerning sentencing standards and community safety our organisation it had raised with Government in which he stated “ Violent crime simply has no place in our community and that is why I am committed to meaningful change to keep Victorians safe”

“ Like all Victorians we look forward to some “meaningful change” beginning with stripping out loopholes which provide for offenders convicted of assaulting emergency workers escaping the full force of the law which in this case means mandatory custodial sentences by taking away the discretionary power of the judiciary in this matter,

“A major step but a necessary one,” said Mr Glare

Police complaints are they rising

by CAA | May 16, 2018 | Library, Uncategorized

16th May 2018

We are continually told that Victoria Police average 14,000 Police public contacts per day so the number of complaints against police forms only a tiny fraction of this number.
This argument does not pass the pub test and is treated with scepticism by the public of Victoria. A more meaningful statistic would be the number of complaints against police arising as the consequence of seeking compliance with public order and the law.
Cameras capturing only part of incidents and other excuses are trotted out as to why the complaints seem to be on the rise but the rise may only be a symptom of a larger problem that if left untreated will guarantee further increases.
Frustration – with few exceptions people are motivated to join policing as a career to achieve a level of fulfilment in serving the community. However, when they go through the arduous qualifying process to join the like minded ranks of the once proud Force on the front line of Policing, many of their aspirational dreams are shattered and they are left as frustrated as their peers.
Imagine if you were a fully trained and equipped police member prepared to do what needs to be done to maintain the peace, prevent crime, and, importantly, intervene to stop the continuation of a crime and you are routinely instructed to take no action. Victoria Police has a non-interventionist policy. Add that to a Risk Adverse psyche and you have the ingredients for no action.
This is seen in many examples, amongst the most obvious the interception of stolen cars where generally the perpetrators are allowed to run and police must stand by no doubt uttering a prayer that non-intervention does not lead to another Bourke street tragedy.
The issue around the mobs wrecking short stay rental properties is probably the worse example of this policy. Contrary to what was published in the media there is ample legislative powers for police to have acted and we are told there were ample police at the scenes of these events to act but they were directed not to intervene. Safety is the often sited reason but whose? Seems the community don’t rate high on this scale.
Serious consideration must be given to the consequences of the current policies and the adverse side effects it creates. Not the least the propensity to encourage more disorder not less.
Police must start intervening and doing what the Police Force is paid to do.