North Coast police officer reveals views on youth crime, QPS following What Cops Want special report

Following a special News Corp investigation into what serving Queensland Police officers want, one of several North Coast cops surveyed has revealed what work life is like and the barriers preventing him from doing his job. See the response.

A North Coast Queensland Police officer has revealed what it’s like on the thin blue line. Photo: QPS.

A North Coast police officer has asked for stronger support from management in a sneak peak on what it’s like working on the thin blue line.

The officer’s comment was made anonymously in News Corp’s survey for the special investigative feature What Cops Want.

In the aptly entitled investigation, dozens of serving police officers from across Queensland, which encompasses the Sunshine Coast in the North Coast region, were interviewed with their names withheld.

This was to allow for an honest discussion on what they need to do their jobs better.

In the investigation, the majority of officers believed their service is heading in the wrong direction, and wanted sweeping changes to police pursuit rules, GPS trackers for criminals and support to tackle the state’s overwhelming domestic violence workload.

In the investigation, the majority of officers believed their service is heading in the wrong direction, and wanted sweeping changes to police pursuit rules and more. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

The anonymous police officers surveyed blasted lenient sentences and said the service’s strength was being drained by the crippling weight of domestic violence investigations, poor staffing and a sluggish disciplinary process.

Nearly every police officer said offender sentences were not meeting community expectations, while 65 per cent said they would not recommend friends or family members become police officers.

North Coast needs

One North Coast officer, who was one of several interviewed in the district, said for the service to retain officers they needed management who supported them.

“It comes down to strong leadership who support people underneath which we don’t have,” he said.

“We should be [also] dealing with crime as opposed to social issues.”

He went as far to say he would not recommend being a police officer to his friends or family.

“For me the organisation doesn’t support its employees anymore, [it] doesn’t show confidence in them,” the officer said.

“As a result, because it’s a job that carries risk, you don’t have the support when an issue arises for rubbish.

“We’re investigated way more.”

Police officer on crime

The answer was simple when asked what the officer wanted from political leaders during the state election, agreeing with LNP leader David Crisafulli’s hard line stance of “adult time for adult crime”.

“Support for the police to do their job, and legislative change to make imprisonment not a last resort for youth crime,” he said.

“With youth crime, we need the legislative tools to enforce the law better to keep them in custody.

“Our courts are so soft.

“The kids coming through [the court system] will get plenty of opportunities anyway until they’re sentenced like an adult.”

Retirement age

The officer was quizzed on a variety of other issues he claimed plagued the force, including how the forced retirement age of 60 in the QPS is affecting the organisation.

“Particularly non operation roles, we’re losing a lot of experience unnecessarily,” he said.

Officers shared their thoughts on domestic violence, the compulsory retirement age and youth crime.

“In operational police our bodies break down, I think they should look at other avenues.

“In places like England once you get to a particular age you get a desk job should they want to take a non-operational role, they can use it for older people which could be an option.

“Sixty is a bit young.”

When asked about what he could change about the job and what was taking him away from his duties, he said he’d rather the force focus more on solving crime, as opposed to societal issues.

“Paperwork was [also] taking me away [from front line duties], overly onerous paperwork, along with lengthy periods for investigation in relation to domestic violence incidents,” the officer said.

“With the [Independent] Commission of Inquiry, we have to do a big holistic review and not just the immediate situation, which takes time.

“We’re trying to work within the parameters we’ve been given, I would suggest it’s not the right we’re taking on a non-policing issue.

“But we’ve got to work with what we’ve got in terms of domestic violence.”

Dozens of police officers were surveyed for the special investigation. Picture: QPS.

Other issues plaguing the force according to the officer was also staffing levels, with all types of leave for officers affecting those still on duty.

Tools v people power

“The tools we’ve been given and fancy things we’ve been given are great and assist us, but if we don’t have bums on seats we don’t use them much because we’re too busy,” he said.

“The other issue is there hasn’t been a staff increase in the many years [for his department].

“There’s not a lot of vacancies and not enough positions available.”

This comment comes as exclusive leaked police staffing data reveals Labor have put fewer extra police on the front line across three terms than the Newman LNP Government did in one.

The officer headcount growth across Queensland under the current government is the lowest in almost two decades, according to the confidential Queensland Police Service Strength History report.

Service recognises its people

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the service had “the highest regard” for its officers and recognised their “exceptional” work.

“The QPS is committed to supporting frontline police and service delivery by engaging with its members, establishing strong leadership frameworks, undertaking feedback, and taking action to address challenges facing the organisation,” he said.

“The service regularly reviews population growth, crime trends and service delivery requirements to ensure fair and equitable distribution of officers and resources across the state.”

The spokesman said in the Sunshine Coast District, the Caloundra South Police Station was opened in early August.

“This is in addition to new stations in Coolum, Cooroy and Nambour in the last three years,” he said.

Extra resources

He said the Caloundra police station also had the capacity to grow and accommodate additional resources over time.

“Initiatives such as Operation Whiskey Legion and Taskforce Guardian also help bolster local operational capabilities, while districts have the discretion and flexibility to move their resources around as demand fluctuates,” he said.

The police spokesman said a “transformation roadmap” had begun, aimed at guiding and improving the police service over the

next five years.

“This transformation will also feature opportunities for feedback from both frontline officers and staff, ensuring that

everyone has the tools, systems and support they need to keep the community safe,” he said.

The spokesman said the service expected the highest standards of integrity and professionalism from its members.

Internal investigations

“Ensuring that those standards are maintained occurs across a broad spectrum of measures including education, training, supervision,

leadership and via management and disciplinary processes,” he said.

“The conduct of QPS members is also subject to external oversight by bodies such as the Crime and Corruption Commission in order to ensure service delivery and community confidence are maintained to the highest standard.

The spokesman said the mandatory retirement age of 60 was not a police policy but a legislative requirement.

“The QPS is looking at ways to retain officers in the workforce in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and is open to consultation regarding the mandatory retirement age,” he said.

The spokesman said on September 19, the Service gained 128 new police officers, one of the largest police inductions in 26 years.

“The QPS has seen the graduation of 850 recruits in the past 12 months – a 68 per cent increase from the previous year – and there are more than 2370 applications currently in the pipeline,” he said.