Well, the speculation is over – we know why the Police Association has decided to stay out of the Victorian election. The coppers have been promised funding by Labor to buy, well, whatever they want – or, translated, the Police Association and Labor have done a deal that will result in police revolvers being replaced by semi-automatic handguns, and tasers being put in police cars. This is despite what John Silvester, The Age’s police reporter, claims is
…Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon’s reluctance to arm rank-and-file police with semi-automatics and her refusal to authorise the widespread distribution of Tasers.
Am I the only person who finds it extraordinary that a deal has been done between the staff union and the government to buy equipment that management doesn’t seem to think is a great idea? What the heck does it say about the relationship between the government and its police chief that they’ve gone so blatantly behind her back? And why aren’t the Liberals playing this up?
To be fair to the Police Association, there are apparently serious problems with the current revolvers, many of which are virtually antiques. Pretty much every other police force in Australia has switched to semi-autos.
Crossposted at The View From Benambra
“a deal has been done between the staff union and the government to buy equipment that management doesn’t seem to think is a great idea”
It’s up to the management to determine rules for when and how these weapons are to be deployed. whatever the unions and government say. Of course this gives the appropriately named Paul Mullet another stick to beat the Chief Commissioner with, but she’ll just have to manage it.
The government probably came to this decision reluctantly. Nixon has been good for them. And they can ignore the police union most of the time. But not at an election.
“New Zealand Police officers do not formally bear firearms while on patrol, but routinely carry pepper spray and batons. Police are also trialling a taser as a new non-lethal weapon . Certain police cars can carry firearms in a secure container (usually a GLOCK 17 pistol); its use being supervised by a senior officer such as a sergeant. The presence of armed police at an incident is often considered a newsworthy event by the media.”
Just a little cut and paste from Wikipedia. Wouldn’t it be nice if both parties were fighting to go for the progressive New Zealand system? Yes, it is most disturbing if a deal has been cut between the most unpopular Mullet (disliked by many serving police) and Labor functionaries, as Ms Nixon is a pretty straight shooter. And as for being “fair” to the Police Association, when they stop seeming to protect disgraced members, I might feel more sympathy for their needs.
If there are any shady Union/ALP deals going on I would expect Janet Albrechtson to be all over them like a rash.) You know how much she hates unions throwing their weight around.
Just on the subject of guns though – I wrote some years ago that they should switch over to individually keyed Metalstorm ( Aussi manufacturer) handguns. If they had then at least one cop who was shot by his own gun would still probably be alive today and an Aussie company would have a sound basis for upgrading their business.
I almost feel sorry for the sedentary isolated Ms Nixon these days. She is presiding over a police farce that is split in half, dysfunctional and was described by the C/wealth Ombdman recently as the ‘ most corrupt organization in Australia’.
Professor Rat, the Police Association is not your typical Labor-supporting union. I’d bet large amounts of money that at least 80% of police vote conservative.
I appreciate the point R Merkel;
However, we must realise that this is a New-right perspective that can be argued is responsible for upping the ante, pressurising society with Durkheims ‘anomie’, leballing them, and perpetuating the cycle.
Policy must be aimed at drawing down the pressure, not allowing anarchists the platforms required to generate matters un-desirable.
Weaponising Police may not be the answer when machismo is in the wind.
Better to give them water pistols and pepper spray i reckon. Protect and serve, as the saying goes.
But don’t you get it?
Christine Nixon doesn’t want to arm the police because she is a woman.
Bauilleeauaue won’t complain because he wants the police out there protecting the forestry industry from those feral greenies who control the government which is oppressing our upstanding logchoppers.
That last para, sadly, is close to the mark on what he actually believes. Interesting what slips out on the radio.