‘Not consistent with my own morals’: Police union executive resigns over “moral” objection

A senior NSW Police officer has resigned from the Police Association of NSW (PANSW) board, siting moral objections to some branches in the state taking industrial action amid staff shortages.

A senior NSW cop has quit the police union’s executive due to a “moral” objection to some branches refusing to attend non-urgent call-outs because of severe staffing shortages.

Acting Superintendent Matt Webb resigned by email from his position on the where he represented the commissioned officers in the force.

“This is a decision that has not been taken lightly … recent events in the South West Met region and some actions by the PANSW do not sit well with me,” he said in the email obtained by The Daily Telegraph.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed representing you but unfortunately the current industrial action is not consistent with my own morals and standards of practice.”

Supt Webb, who is not ­related to Police Commissioner Karen Webb, represented police from the rank of inspector and above on the union board. He would not comment further on his resignation.

Pictured is Acting Superintendent Matt Webb, who has resigned from the Police Association of NSW.

PANSW branches across the state, but particularly in the southwest of Sydney, have been passing motions recently advising members not to attend certain jobs which they believe should be done by other government agencies, or are not deemed life-threatening, due to staff shortages.

One motion last month from the Camden PANSW branch stated: “From 29th September to protect the psychological safety of members … the Camden Branch WILL NOT due to significant staffing shortages be performing particular requests (as specified) from outside agencies and corporate clients.”

The motion went on to list 24 call-out categories which the Camden PANSW branch officers would not be responding to, including accompanying ambulance transfers between hospitals for mental health patients, general concern-for-welfare checks on patients requested by hospitals, truancy checks for schools, stationary roadside breath testing operations and staffing dance parties where private operators were running events for profit.

The branch also said officers would not be filling out paperwork deemed non-essential, or respond to noise complaints and parking disputes. The Telegraph understands there have been similar motions passed in other NSW commands.

Senior cops said they understood the rank-and-file officers’ frustration with staff shortages.

“There are some commands which have only 60 per cent of the required officers to … man the area,” one veteran officer said. “It’s critical … and its not only the frontline guys who are quitting or going off sick, there are senior people who just can’t cope anymore.

“Unless the Commissioner (Ms Webb) and the government do some quickly, it will only get worse.”

Originally published as ‘Not consistent with my own morals’: Police union executive resigns over “moral” objection