Published Tuesday, 06 February, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
STATE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE EXTRA RESOURCES FOR POLICING IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
The Beattie Government will provide additional resources to aid policing in remote indigenous communities throughout Queensland, Premier Peter Beattie said.
Mr Beattie made the announcement after a meeting with the Minister for Police Judy Spence, Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson and representatives of the Queensland Police Union and the Queensland Police Commissioned Officers Union late this afternoon.
“I have already asked the Crime and Misconduct Commission to conduct a review into policing issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Mr Beattie said.
“The CMC will report back to the Attorney General by the end of August.
“However, in the interim union representatives and the Police Commissioner have raised a number of issues that may assist police in these communities in the performance of their duties.
“These initiatives include a commitment to fund the installation of closed circuit digital recording equipment in all custodial areas in police stations, to complement the CCTV in watchhouses on Aboriginal Deed of Grant in Trust communities within 12 months, and that work will commence immediately in those facilities at Woorabinda, Palm Island and Aurukun.
“In relation to the installation of surveillance facilities in all watchhouses, the Police Commissioner has undertaken to conduct an audit, with union representation, of all existing surveillance facilities in watchhouses. He has invited the Unions to be involved in this process.
“The audit will compare the functionality of current electronic surveillance systems and the extent to which this falls short of the Police Unions’ expectations.
“The audit will also identify the extent to which any cost involved in upgrading facilities to the standard expected by the Unions can be absorbed within the existing capital works budget within the Queensland Police Service or would require consideration of budget supplementation in this year’s budget process.
“In addition, the audit will identify overall priorities for upgrading facilities across Queensland’s watchhouses.
“Finally, the Police Commissioner has agreed to bring staffing levels to nine at Kowanyama, Bamaga and Aurukun and to upgrade the status of the Officer in Charge at each station from Sergeant to Senior Sergeant.
“In relation to the broader question of staffing levels in Aboriginal communities, the Commissioner offered to set up a working party in conjunction with the Unions to look at staffing numbers in Aboriginal communities and discuss Union priorities for the deployment of any additional resources.”
Minister for Police Judy Spence welcomed the progress in this afternoon’s talks, saying the government was committed to providing a safe environment for the state’s police officers.
“This funding will help improve conditions in police stations in these communities and in areas of custody where police officers might find themselves vulnerable.
“By setting up these working parties it will help us provide increased safety for police officers who may have allegations brought against them by those who are detained in police custody.”
6 February, 2007
Media contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Mr Beattie made the announcement after a meeting with the Minister for Police Judy Spence, Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson and representatives of the Queensland Police Union and the Queensland Police Commissioned Officers Union late this afternoon.
“I have already asked the Crime and Misconduct Commission to conduct a review into policing issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Mr Beattie said.
“The CMC will report back to the Attorney General by the end of August.
“However, in the interim union representatives and the Police Commissioner have raised a number of issues that may assist police in these communities in the performance of their duties.
“These initiatives include a commitment to fund the installation of closed circuit digital recording equipment in all custodial areas in police stations, to complement the CCTV in watchhouses on Aboriginal Deed of Grant in Trust communities within 12 months, and that work will commence immediately in those facilities at Woorabinda, Palm Island and Aurukun.
“In relation to the installation of surveillance facilities in all watchhouses, the Police Commissioner has undertaken to conduct an audit, with union representation, of all existing surveillance facilities in watchhouses. He has invited the Unions to be involved in this process.
“The audit will compare the functionality of current electronic surveillance systems and the extent to which this falls short of the Police Unions’ expectations.
“The audit will also identify the extent to which any cost involved in upgrading facilities to the standard expected by the Unions can be absorbed within the existing capital works budget within the Queensland Police Service or would require consideration of budget supplementation in this year’s budget process.
“In addition, the audit will identify overall priorities for upgrading facilities across Queensland’s watchhouses.
“Finally, the Police Commissioner has agreed to bring staffing levels to nine at Kowanyama, Bamaga and Aurukun and to upgrade the status of the Officer in Charge at each station from Sergeant to Senior Sergeant.
“In relation to the broader question of staffing levels in Aboriginal communities, the Commissioner offered to set up a working party in conjunction with the Unions to look at staffing numbers in Aboriginal communities and discuss Union priorities for the deployment of any additional resources.”
Minister for Police Judy Spence welcomed the progress in this afternoon’s talks, saying the government was committed to providing a safe environment for the state’s police officers.
“This funding will help improve conditions in police stations in these communities and in areas of custody where police officers might find themselves vulnerable.
“By setting up these working parties it will help us provide increased safety for police officers who may have allegations brought against them by those who are detained in police custody.”
6 February, 2007
Media contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500