The Forum > Article Comments > Queensland police 'move-on' powers are over the top > Comments
Queensland police 'move-on' powers are over the top : Comments
By Nick Christie, published 1/11/2006Your right to free use of public spaces is not as clear and unmitigated as it once was.
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Maybe the concerns the auhthor expressed comes down to trust and the police only have themselves to blame for any mistrust the community have in their ability to enforce the law reasonably. The honest police need to distance themselves from the bad eggs instead of tacitly suggesting approval with their silence.
The recent ill treatment of a homeless man, who any fool would know wouldn't have known that the laws have changed to allow police to move people on, is indicative of the unreasonableness of the new law in some situations. Tthe homeless man apparently thought it unreasonable and unlawful for the police to move him on.
Any public complaint against say a homeless man for changing his clothes and showering would be vexatious and unreasonable anyway - how petty. I can understand his reaction.
And what about people who are in a situation where because of poor town planning the public become a nuisance? The town law allows people in situations like this to be nuisances but the state criminalises the same behaviour.
And it seems to me, from my experiences with the police, that the police have become not only the law enforcers but the judge and jury too. Some are quick to lay charges on the poor and naive, but will often refuse to prosecute the wealthy and powerful. In my dealings with the CMC and DPP I have been so mucked about it was criminal in my books. I find it hard trust the police.
I think these move on laws show up a need for the system to be counter-balanced with laws and resources that provide for the proper defence of charges especially petty and unreasonable ones laid by overentusiastic police. They also must provide the DPP with adequate resources so that they can prosecute the real criminals and violent offenders according to the law - rather than financial and time constraints