The Snitch: Traffic police vent their frustrations on Facebook

A popular Facebook page where traffic cops can anonymously air their grievances is causing a stir in the top ranks of the Traffic and Highway Patrol command.

A post from The Traffic Trumpet Facebook page, which gives police a space to vent.

It’s become a place for traffic cops to air their grievances and bond over a bit of cynicism.

And while this particular Facebook page is soaring in popularity, the authors are causing a stir within the top ranks at the Traffic and Highway Patrol command.

The Traffic Trumpet Facebook page.

The page — titled The Traffic Trumpet, there’s nothing like blowing your own horn — has become a forum for officers to take a dig at the policies and decisions of their employer, and engage in niche humour only a copper would get.

There are countless memes poking fun at quotas for random breath tests, the placement of RBTs during peak hour, and human resources minutiae.

One of the posts on the page.

But there are also a few pot shots at former and serving Traffic and Highway Patrol bosses.

The humour appears to be lost on the NSW Police top brass, who aren’t too pleased with the page and its following.

“Lots of silly stuff and very misinformed,” one senior source said.

The authors operate under a veil of anonymity, but some senior police suspect they know who’s on the keyboard.

However, despite warnings to the rank and file not to engage, The Traffic Trumpet reached more than 3000 likes this week. “The Traffic Trumpet is simply a voice of the frontline, laughing at issues that affect those on the coal face,” one post read.

“And hopefully raising a smile or laugh with shared problems along the way with the knowledge that the silliness isn’t just restricted to one place.”

TO THE STARTING LINE

Aaaaaaand we are officially off and running in the race to find the state’s next Director of Public Prosecutions.

The NSW government threw the gates open this week by publishing an advertisement to find Lloyd Babb SC’s successor, with ambitious legal types now crawling all over each other to get their nose in front for the top prosecuting gig.

Lloyd Babb will soon be leaving his role as DPP and a search is under way for his replacement.

However, the ad does warn that “probity checks will be conducted” on all applicants, which will likely rule out many of the more entertaining options.

The new top prosecutor will step in for the standard 10-year term, and will be NSW’s
fourth DPP after Reg Blanch QC, Nicholas Cowdery QC and Mr Babb.

The ad also says applicants must be an Australian lawyer, have “at least seven
years’ standing” (is that all?), and should possess substantial legal experience and demonstrated working knowledge of criminal law.”

We’d hope so.

NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman SC is taking applications until April 19 while a “concurrent” search is taking place.

Which brings us to what is next for Mr Babb?

As has come to be expected, the current DPP has not been forthcoming in making public declarations about what his future holds.

We have heard all manner of rumours, including that he is looking at academic gigs in the US, or a role with the Australian navy, where he would act in a judicial-type role on its tribunal.

Our first guess — but strangely a rumour we haven’t heard — would have been that Mr Babb would be appointed as a judge on the NSW Supreme Court.

But that decision lies with the Attorney-General, who will rely heavily on the views of Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court Tom Bathurst.

As usual, stay tuned.

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