August 2009 - The Police Association Victoria

3
President’s Message
By Brian Rix
Increase in street violence –
Memo to the Premier
Premier John Brumby and Chief
Commissioner Simon Overland are
right. All Victorians need to rail
against the insidious rise of street
violence and vicious attacks now
synonymous with life on Melbourne
Streets after dark. All Victorians
include you Mr Brumby. You are
one that can do more than most
Mr Brumby and now is the time to
stand up as a leader and tackle this
problem head on.
The community, aka “voters”,
demand more than words. We want
your government to demonstrate
that you are willing to do something
for ordinary law abiding citizens.
Police Association members are
sick and tired of the old worn
out rhetoric. The facts from the
productivity commission do not lie.
Despite your crowing about how
much you are spending on Police,
you and your government are stone
motherless last in terms of re-current
expenditure on Police and Victorian
Police officers serve more people
per capita than any other State or
Territory in the country. Fix it.
All the Police Association has
asked for is to get us at least up
to the average. Then we may be
capable of running long term
operations without jeopardising
our members’ health and safety to
quell street violence and do our bit to
make Melbourne the most liveable
city in Australia once again.
The Police Association has long
rallied for what is euphemistically
termed “zero tolerance” that has
been so successful overseas – for the
uninformed, that just doesn’t mean
no latitude, it means a saturation of
resources in areas of concern coupled
with pro-active community-based
initiatives to bring about attitudinal
change. One officer, a 20 plus year
veteran recently said to me – “more
cops visible on the streets will mean
less crime. It is a fact that you pull
someone up for a minor offence,
they know you are around. It stops
things escalating.”
You do your bit, John Brumby. Get us
off the bottom of the ladder. Spend
money on your Police Force, employ
more Police officers and we will
work with our Chief Commissioner
to turn this around. We will lead by
example and enforce the law.
Federal unexplained wealth
legislation
Through the auspices of the Police
Federation, submissions were
made to the Federal parliamentary
committee responsible for
oversighting the Australian Crime
Commission. Our submission
was ostensibly on the lawlessness
of outlaw motorcycle gangs and
suggestions on how to combat
unlawful activities. Out of those
discussions, the Commonwealth
legislation to combat serious and
organised crime bill 2009 has been
introduced to parliament by the
Attorney General. This legislation will
allow for unexplained wealth orders
but will not require proof of a link to
the commission of a specific offence.
While still undergoing development,
this legislation has the potential to
greatly assist investigators to take
the profit out of crime.
The Police profession -
National Registration
Your Police Federation executive
presented to the Minister for Home
affairs, all State Police Ministers
and Commissioners on the rationale
for a National Registration scheme
for all 53,000 Police officers
throughout Australia. A working
party has been established to
progress a National registration
...more cops visible on the
streets will mean less crime.
It is a fact that you pull someone
up for a minor offence, they
know you are around. It stops
things escalating.
model that will enhance the
policing profession. The Police
Association has been a driver in
this debate and hopefully we will
see the model endorsed. National
Registration has been on the
agenda for 18 years and is now
close to realisation.
A time to remember and
support your colleagues
National Police Remembrance Day
and Blue Ribbon Day memorial
services will be held on Tuesday
29th September. The Police
Association strongly supports
these events and encourages all
members to attend, participate
and remember our friends and
colleagues who are no longer
with us. Spread the word, put
aside some time to attend the
service at the memorial on St
Kilda Road, the service at the
Springvale cemetery or if you are
in Canberra, the magnificent Police
memorial on Wendouree Drive,
Kings Park adjacent to Anzac
Drive, Canberra.
www.tpav.org.au The Police Association Journal August 2009