The Queensland Police Union has launched a campaign for pay rises (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21996100-5007190,00.html). Police are leaving in record numbers.

I totally support the QPU in this push. We desperately need a much better standard of policing in Queensland and indeed across the country. And one of most important aspects of this is to at least maintain police numbers!

The QPU was outraged at the charging of Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley for the murder of Mulrunji Doomadgee on Palm Island after Premier Peter Beatty stepped in and ordered a second opinion on the decision not to charge him. I thought that these actions by the QPU were disgraceful. Clearly Hurley needed to face court. Clearly the police needed to NOT be seen to be above the law.

The QPU then launched another tirade against Beatty immediately after Hurley’s trial. This had to be one of the most dismal acts of all time. I think the QPU was seen by the majority of people to be far too overprotective of an officer who was involved in a death in custody and who absolutely needed to be submitted to an open and transparent trial process. They should have been happy that Hurley was found not guilty and left it at that.

So the QPU has quickly gone from something totally abysmal to something that needs to be strongly supported. Thank goodness for that.

We need a strong police force and a strong rule of law. And we are going to need it a whole lot more in the near future, with water shortages, climate change, rapid population growth, and an inevitable decline in employment rates and increase in living costs as the minerals boom comes to an end and peak oil takes effect.

We need to start planning for a much-improved policing regime now! And not just in Queensland.

It's not surprising that someone who works for government wants to expand and increase the cost of government. Government needs to be reduced. So what if a few police want to leave? maybe it's because sitting on the side of the road taking punitive measures against speeding drivers in an expansive country is not anyone's idea of noble law enforcement. Maybe it's because they have to spend 80% of their time breathalysing sober drivers.

well, just like everywhere else queensland too appears to have the same problem of too many cops and not enough policemen. in qld the force appears to be used for revenue gathering rather than keeping law & order. I'd welcome to be proven wrong on that one.

Steel may be on to something. While I often agree with Ludwig, particularly on environmental issues, I have wondered at times about his apparent enthusiasm for - and faith in - the instrumentalities of the State as the principal remedy for our various social ailments. I now realise Steel's point that, as an undoubtedly committed public servant, this is really the only position that Ludwig can take.

Personally, I'm not at all comfortable with the recent behaviour of the Qld Police - although the few that I know personally are thoroughly decent and honest blokes who tend to be very involved in their communities. While the Qld Police Union has a history of being openly political, I think in the recent Hurley case they have behaved in a manner that can only exacerbate disrespect both for the police and the law. What ever happened to the notion that justice not only has to be done, but has to be seen to be done?

Individual, I sort of agree with you. There does seems to be a revenue-raising motivation ahead of meaningful law enforcement some of the time.

Although I think that most of the time it is more a matter of brownie-point scoring rather than revenue-raising. In other words; the cops want to be seen to be achieving something tangible. They do this by addressing the easy issues that reap maximum rates of return and consequently don’t give the more difficult things due attention.

CJ, I am a principal scientist. I’ve followed my passions in life. The fact that I work for the Qld government, which technically makes me a public servant, is completely incidental and inconsequential as far as free expression of my views goes.

I write under a pseudonym specifically because I wish to be completely free of any suppression from my employer, whether it be intended or incidental. In fact, I have VERY strong feelings indeed about freedom of speech. I REFUSE to be muzzled. I will express my own views entirely freely.

Yes pressures within one’s employment can affect their expression of views, whether it be public service or private enterprise. So I write under a pseudonym, specifically to escape this, which pisses me off no end… because I can’t be readily recognised for my views.

Look at my post history on this forum – approaching 1500 posts. You’ll find PLENTY of comments that go against the grain of the Qld government, some very strongly so indeed, especially issues pertaining to population growth and water resources. You will also find lots of comments against police, especially under http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=2877

So although I expect that it will cut no ice with you: I emphatically state that my views are entirely my own and not in the slightest bit swayed by my employment.

At any rate, what the hell does it matter? Why not just accept one’s views as they are presented and debate them accordingly?

Ok, now I can get to the actual subject at hand!...

Yes most police are good people. But unfortunately the small number of ratbags give the whole force a very bad reputation. And when you run into an ugly copper, it can be a very ugly and damaging experience indeed.

As much as I desire to see a stronger and more effective police force, I am loathe to have anything to do with them, unless I absolutely have to. This is really bad, as I strongly believe that the general public should have a very large part to play in the overall policing regime, and should be strongly encouraged and facilitated in interaction with police.

So improving our police force and hence the rule of law across society is by no means just a matter of increasing police numbers....or of paying them more in the hope of getting better standard of service. Fundamental improvements in the nature of policing are also needed.

State police for general duties outside the towns and elected Sheriffs and a local force forcities and towns.
Much more local involvement.