Premier Steven Miles, Police Minister, defend government’s record after survey reveals discontent in police ranks
Police Minister Mark Ryan has weighed in on an issue that’s putting enormous strain on police, leading one officer to comment that they’re being treated as ‘de facto social workers’.
QLD Votes
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Votes. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Police Minister Mark Ryan says trials are underway to allow police to record statements from domestic violence victims on body-worn cameras in order to reduce paperwork for officers.
A survey of Queensland police published in News Corp mastheads this week showed officers were struggling with an enormous workload dominated by domestic violence and mental health-related call-outs, prompting one Brisbane officer to say that police were “being used as de facto social workers”.
Mr Ryan said domestic violence was a “scourge on our society” that chewed up a lot of police time, but community safety remained the priority.
“Domestic violence has been historically under-reported,” he said. “It is good to see that more and more victims have the confidence to contact police knowing that their matter will be dealt with in a comprehensive and supportive manner.
“Dealing with domestic violence matters does take up a lot of police time.
“That’s why the government has introduced legislation to streamline processes using technology and electronic lodgement and transfers of documents.
“In addition, trials are underway allowing police to record statements from domestic violence victims on body-worn cameras to reduce paperwork. These efficiencies will continue to be implemented and evaluated.”
In the survey published this week police also expressed concern about sentences being handed down by courts, with 96 per cent agreeing they did not meet community expectations.
Mr Ryan insisted the government had given the courts the tools they needed.
“I have consistently said that the government has provided the courts with the strong laws, the tools the courts need to meet community expectations when it comes to handing out the appropriate penalties, and I do not resile from that expectation that the courts reflect the views of the community,” he said.
“Queensland has the strongest laws in the nation in many areas.
“Our youth justice laws are the toughest in the nation as evidenced by the number of offenders being held in detention.
“ ... The government listens to police when it comes to these matters.
“Many of the laws we have are based on the advice of police.”
The Bulletin this week also revealed a confidential Queensland Police Service Strength History report showed the number of officers had grown by just 835 over the past nine years.
However Mr Ryan defended the government’s record.
“I will always back police and I have demonstrated that commitment by delivering record investments, including the biggest investment in policing in more than 30 years to deliver 3000 extra police personnel,” he said.
“I have advocated on behalf of police for the protective equipment, the laws, the support programs, the resources, the infrastructure and the latest technologies they need to do their job, and the government has delivered by providing all those things.
“ ... The Miles Government backs police unlike the LNP which cut police, underfunded police, reneged on promises to fund police helicopters and safe night precincts.”
Shadow Police Minister Dan Purdie said that if elected the LNP would assist police by introducing stronger laws and a GPS tracker program for high-risk domestic violence offenders.
“Queenslanders know that our thin blue line has become increasingly stretched under Labor,” Mr Purdie said.
“The LNP will work with our police, not against them, and empower them with stronger laws and more resources to protect Queenslanders.
“The LNP will also address the scourge of domestic violence in our communities with a new GPS tracker program for high-risk offenders on DVOs, providing real-time information to protect victims.”
PREMIER’S RESPONSE TO ALARMING POLICE SURVEY
Premier Steven Miles is defending his government’s record in supporting Queensland police, but admitted more needed to be done to reduce the number of officers choosing to leave the service.
On Wednesday News Corp mastheads revealed comments and statistics from a survey of police officers showing three quarters who responded felt the service was heading in the wrong direction.
It also show a similar number calling for greater use of GPS trackers, more than 60 per cent wanted better pay and superannuation and 65 per cent said they would not recommend family or friends join up.
Police also said the demands of domestic violence and mental health jobs were creating an unsustainable workload, with one Brisbane officer saying they were being used as “de facto social workers”.
Mr Miles questioned the survey sample size of anonymous officers, but said he would support increased use of GPS trackers, but fell short of committing to improving worker conditions, including better pay and superannuation, despite admitting the service had a problem with its attrition rate.
“I’ve been working really hard with the new police commissioner on his plans to improve morale in the police service,” he said.
“Our Queensland police do a fantastic job of keeping Queenslanders safe, and I’ve been proud to work alongside them.
“We have a record number of recruits at the academy, but we know that we need to reduce the attrition rate. That’s something that I’ve been meeting with the union or talking with them about.”
Mr Miles said police in Queensland were among the best paid in the country.
“I’m not surprised that the police who responded to that survey would like to be paid more. I’ve represented workers for a fair chunk of my life, and all of them would like to be paid more,” he said.
“But we have some of the best paid police in the country, and we will continue to make sure that they are so that we can continue to attract more police to our service. That’s what we want to see.”
Asked about the survey results, Shadow Police Minister Dan Purdie said that if elected the LNP would assist police by introducing stronger laws and a GPS tracker program for high-risk domestic violence offenders.
“Queenslanders know that our thin blue line has become increasingly stretched under Labor,” Mr Purdie said.
“The LNP will work with our police, not against them, and empower them with stronger laws and more resources to protect Queenslanders.
“The LNP will also address the scourge of domestic violence in our communities with a new GPS tracker program for high-risk offenders on DVOs, providing real-time information to protect victims.”
Tiny baby’s death: Questions new Child Safety Minister won’t answer
Queensland’s new Child Safety Minister will not commit to a review and has dodged questions about the shocking death of a two-month-old girl, born to an at-risk teen and at the home of long-term foster carers when ambulances were called.
Teen left with head injuries after ‘large’ brawl at Burleigh
A brawl involving a large group of teenagers at Burleigh Heads has left a boy in hospital and two others with injuries. Read what happened.