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Commissioner's Foreword

The past year has been significant for the Queensland Police Service (QPS)—a year of achievements and challenges. Achievements are important to any organisation, but challenges are equally important. We must continuously strive for greater achievement and deal appropriately with all challenges.

Enhancing performance management

During the year the Service Delivery and Performance Commission released a review of the QPS. The review found many positives in our organisation, including a strong service delivery culture, significant progress in raising professionalism and ethical practice, a strong commitment to training and supporting the health and well-being of officers.

The Review made a range of recommendations and we have commenced a process to address and implement them.

Addressing domestic violence

I was pleased to see the progress made during the year towards addressing domestic violence in Queensland. The QPS formed a specific unit in October 2007 to tackle this difficult but important social issue. A number of significant outcomes were achieved in 2008-09 by the unit including the development of the QPS Domestic and Family Violence Strategy 2009-2013. It is my hope this strategy will help move us towards a future where there are fewer victims of domestic violence.

Targeting organised crime

The Telecommunications Interception Act 2009 was passed by Queensland Parliament in May 2009. This legislation provides our officers with enhanced capabilities to fight crime. The QPS and the CMC can now independently use telecommunications interceptions to target criminals involved in organised and serious crime.

Working to enhance road safety

We are committed to the National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010, which seeks to reduce national road fatalities by 40%, to a rate of 5.6 fatalities per 100 000 of population. Both Queensland and Australia as a whole are currently above this target. Sadly, we lost 328 people on our roads in 2008, which amounted to 7.66 fatalities per 100 000. The QPS will continue to work with all stakeholders to reduce deaths and injuries on our roads.

Preventing corruption

Shortly after the 2008-09 year drew to a close, a report was released by the CMC regarding Operation Capri, an investigation into allegations of serious misconduct by some police officers. While a range of actions are taking place following the release of the report, the Service had taken action to discipline the officers concerned and in 2008-09 implemented changes to procedures and training. Corruption and misconduct are not tolerated in the Queensland Police Service.

Meeting the challenges of modern law enforcement

Work has continued this year on the new Police Academy at Wacol which will consolidate the current police academy facilities on the one site. While its completion is still a number of years away the Academy will bring together all QPS education and training in a world class facility.

Increasing police numbers

As our population continues to grow rapidly, it is important to ensure police numbers are increased to maintain the police to population ratio. The Government has committed to provide 600 new officers over three years. This will increase police numbers to 10 600 by 2012—and maintain the police to population ratio at or above the national average.

Protecting officers and offenders

During the year the roll out of Conducted Energy Devices (CED) was initiated to provide police with an effective alternative to lethal force in ostile situations. The use of CEDs is already reducing the risk of injury to police and offenders—particularly in instances where a person is behaving violently or intending to self harm.

In June the Minister for Police announced a joint Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) and QPS review of CED training and operational policies. This was due to a serious incident on 12 June 2009 involving the use of a CED by a QPS officer. The Review Report was released on the 4th of September 2009. The recommendations have been adopted and are

Delivering results

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the 14,000 members of the QPS for their hard work, dedication and commitment throughout this past statistical year towards the safety and security of all Queenslanders.

I also sincerely thank all those who support us in so many ways in the work we do. being implemented.

Bob Atkinson APM
Commissioner

Last Updated: 08/11/2010