Published Wednesday, 20 August, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
Government Responds to Families Recommendations on Police Shootings
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine today met with the families of three men who suffered from a mental illness and were shot by police, to discuss the Government’s responses to the families’ recommendations aimed at avoiding such tragedies in the future.
The families have previously met with the Premier, the Minister for Police and Mr Shine and put forward 23 recommendations, after an inquest into the deaths.
“Any death in these circumstances is a tragedy and the Government is sympathetic to the concerns of family members who are under a lot of stress following the death of a loved one,” Mr Shine said.
“I met with the families again today to provide them a copy of the Government’s response to their recommendations, and informed them that the Government has supported 16 of their recommendations and has noted one other recommendation,” Mr Shine said.
“Some of the recommendations supported by the Government include:
• The Queensland Police Service provide operational skills training to officers to ensure that tactical withdrawal should be used whenever appropriate.
• A continuing evaluation of taser use.
• An evaluation of post release programs to support all prisoners with mental illness who are released from prison.
“The Government carefully considered these recommendations, taking into account the views of the families and the roles of Government agencies in our society.
“I would like to thank the families for their commitment to the review of the process for handling people suffering from mental illness during public incidents.”
Mr Shine informed the families of the Government’s reasons for its decision not to support six other recommendations.
“Again, the Government carefully considered these recommendations but at the end of the day we haven’t supported them due to implications for police operations and other difficulties in implementation,” he said.
“One recommendation was that police involved in critical incidents be required to provide a blood specimen for analysis instead of urine.
“However the Government formed the view that urine testing is adequate to disclose if drugs might be present in an officer’s system at the time of a shooting.”
Mr Shine said he also discussed with the families the decision not to support a recommendation that officers not be permitted access to firearms for their first five years of service.
“There is no evidence that officers with five years or less experience are involved in any more or less firearm related incidents than more experienced officers.”
“Queensland police receive excellent training at the academy including the appropriate use of firearms.
Mr Shine said the Government will continue to listen to the community on the management of people suffering from mental illness and review practices to ensure all members of the community are protected.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6400 or 0488 799 273
The families have previously met with the Premier, the Minister for Police and Mr Shine and put forward 23 recommendations, after an inquest into the deaths.
“Any death in these circumstances is a tragedy and the Government is sympathetic to the concerns of family members who are under a lot of stress following the death of a loved one,” Mr Shine said.
“I met with the families again today to provide them a copy of the Government’s response to their recommendations, and informed them that the Government has supported 16 of their recommendations and has noted one other recommendation,” Mr Shine said.
“Some of the recommendations supported by the Government include:
• The Queensland Police Service provide operational skills training to officers to ensure that tactical withdrawal should be used whenever appropriate.
• A continuing evaluation of taser use.
• An evaluation of post release programs to support all prisoners with mental illness who are released from prison.
“The Government carefully considered these recommendations, taking into account the views of the families and the roles of Government agencies in our society.
“I would like to thank the families for their commitment to the review of the process for handling people suffering from mental illness during public incidents.”
Mr Shine informed the families of the Government’s reasons for its decision not to support six other recommendations.
“Again, the Government carefully considered these recommendations but at the end of the day we haven’t supported them due to implications for police operations and other difficulties in implementation,” he said.
“One recommendation was that police involved in critical incidents be required to provide a blood specimen for analysis instead of urine.
“However the Government formed the view that urine testing is adequate to disclose if drugs might be present in an officer’s system at the time of a shooting.”
Mr Shine said he also discussed with the families the decision not to support a recommendation that officers not be permitted access to firearms for their first five years of service.
“There is no evidence that officers with five years or less experience are involved in any more or less firearm related incidents than more experienced officers.”
“Queensland police receive excellent training at the academy including the appropriate use of firearms.
Mr Shine said the Government will continue to listen to the community on the management of people suffering from mental illness and review practices to ensure all members of the community are protected.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6400 or 0488 799 273