New Powers to Give Police More Time to Spend on the Beat
Police Minister Judy Spence said a new bill that she will introduce to State Parliament this week will give police extra powers and reduce onerous paperwork, enabling them to spend more time on the beat.
Ms Spence said the measures were contained in the bill (Police Powers and Responsibilities and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2006) and had been designed to address administrative issues and free up more police time for operational duties.
Ms Spence said two key changes would occur in the policing of domestic violence and in watchhouse duties.
“Domestic violence is not acceptable, and the Beattie Government remains committed to alleviating the effects of it on its victims,” Ms Spence said.
“However domestic violence is a major part of first response policing, and I have been keen to introduce new laws that will provide a more rapid response to victims, and improve the processes for police.
“This new bill will enable police to issue a ‘notice to appear’ to start a domestic violence application, instead of first having to make an arrest or serve a summons.
“This step is expected to save many hours of police time.
“In addition, if a detention for a ‘cooling off’ period is used, a police officer will be able to use a holding cell at a police station instead of having to transport the respondent to a watchhouse.
“This step also has the potential to save hours in police time spent travelling.”
Ms Spence said the Queensland Police Union of Employees had expressed concerns to her about the administrative time spent by police on domestic violence matters, and said this was the first step in addressing those concerns.
Ms Spence said the new bill also included changes in watchhouse officers’ functions and powers, which would also help free up more police time for operational duties.
“This bill provides specific powers to watchhouse officers to enable them to carry out many of the functions presently restricted to police officers,” Ms Spence said.
“This is not unlike the powers currently exercised by Corrective Services officers in jails.
“Under this bill, watchhouse officers will be able to search prisoners and visitors, allow restricted entry of people to watchhouses, control the movement of prisoners within and between watchhouses, and to take identifying particulars and DNA samples.
“They will take on many of the functions that police officers are currently doing, which will release police to perform other operational duties.”
