Key focus area—Civil emergencies and major events

Security Planning and Coordination

Following the state election, machinery-of-government changes announced on 26 March 2009 resulted in responsibility for Security Planning and Coordination being transferred from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to the Queensland Police Service.

As an interim arrangement Security Planning and Coordination reports to the Deputy Commissioner (Specialist Operations). Full integration of Security Planning and Coordination services is currently under review.

Together with the QPS Counter Terrorism Coordination Unit (CTCU), security and counter-terrorism issues throughout Queensland are coordinated by Security Planning and Coordination.

Working collaboratively, Security Planning and Coordination and CTCU liaise across all levels of government and the private sector to improve Queensland's capacity to prevent, respond to and recover from potential terrorist activities.

In 2008–09 Security Planning and Coordination supported the Government’s strategic-level management of responses to a series of natural disasters and events including the November 2008 storms in South East Queensland, Tropical Cyclones Charlotte, Ellie and Hamish, the South East Queensland rain event in May 2009 and the ongoing Human Swine Influenza pandemic.

Security Planning and Coordination received the 2008 Department of the Premier and Cabinet Award for Enhancing Governance Systems and Practice for its State Crisis and Communication Centre information system project.

Countering terrorism

Countering terrorism in Queensland requires participation from all Government agencies, relevant stakeholders and the community. In 2008-09 the QPS continued to provide a lead role in counter-terrorism, through participating in a range of State and Federal Government initiatives which supported the sustained development of our counter-terrorism capability.

These included national counter-terrorism activities under the National Counter-Terrorism Committee (NCTC), such as participation in the inaugural NCTC Dignitary Protection Skills Enhancement course, held in Sydney in May 2009. This advanced training initiative under the National Counter Terrorism Plan, provided all state and territory police jurisdictions and the Australian Federal Police with an opportunity to enhance the skills of their dignitary protection members whilst further developing national capability and jurisdictional interoperability. The QPS also participated in the implementation of the Queensland Government 2008-2010 Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

QPS activities which are coordinated and supported by the Counter-Terrorism Strategic Policy Branch include:

• the QPS Counter-Terrorism Liaison Officer Program, which provides liaison between the QPS and critical infrastructure owners and operators. During 2008-09 the Counter-Terrorism Strategic Policy Branch trained 122 police and 5 civilian staff through the Counter Terrorism Liaison Officer Course. These officers are responsible for liaising with owners or operators of priority sites such as Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and Gold Coast theme parks
• the coordination of QPS participation in the Critical Infrastructure, Mass Gatherings and Government Asset Protection Programs
• supporting the Deputy Commissioner (Specialist Operations) in his capacity as the QPS representative on the National Counter-Terrorism Committee; Chair of the National Investigations Support Capability Coordination Sub-Committee; and co-Chair of the Queensland Counter-Terrorism Committee.

Counter-terrorism exercises

Within Queensland, the QPS is responsible for Counter-Terrorism Exercise Management and has established the multi-agency Counter-Terrorism Training and Exercise Management Committee which administers a drill-style exercise program. Funding is provided by the National Counter-Terrorism Committee. During this reporting period, the QPS played a major role in the national counter terrorism exercise—Mercury 08 which was completed in October 2008.

Mercury 08 primarily tested and evaluated information management and decision making functions in a terrorist situation, focusing on consequence management arrangements at the strategic levels of the Australian, Queensland and Western Australian governments.

The Service continued to increase its counter terrorism capability in the marine environment with a 9.5 metre tactical response and patrol vessel allocated to Brisbane Water Police, capable of being deployed throughout the State. This vessel was delivered in October 2008.

An 8.5m tactical response vessel for Cairns is presently being constructed with delivery expected in late 2009 to further enhance counter terrorism capability within the Northern and Far Northern Regions.

Three class 1 vessels have been delivered to Yeppoon, Cairns and Brisbane respectively. These vessels are equipped as mobile marine Command Operations Centres, enabling major incidents including search and rescue operations to be managed from the scene.

(See page 96 for full details of the QPS vessel management program).

Incidents of high risk, suicide and civil unrest

Police negotiators attended a number of high risk, suicide and civil unrest incidents during the year. Currently there are 106 qualified police negotiators statewide of which 22 are counter-terrorism trained. The Negotiator Coordination Unit has provided training internationally as well as ongoing training to the Australian Federal Police and the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.

Dealing with bomb threats

The QPS Explosive Ordnance Response Team is the largest in Australia and is capable of dealing with explosive, chemical, biological and radiological devices. Training for bomb response and detection has been provided to 520 officers across the State.

The team provided specialist support to a wide range of matters, including VIP security, investigations and safe procedures on 292 occasions during 2008-09.

Bushfires

The Service provided expert assistance during the Victoria bushfires disaster. Nineteen members of the Disaster Victim Identification Squad including two Photographic Section officers and two cadaver dogs and their handlers travelled to Victoria to provide their services and support.

Two members of the Media and Public Affairs Branch also went to Melbourne to assist Victoria Police media liaison officers.

Flood relief operations

In 2009 North Queensland experienced significant rainfall and a tropical cyclone. The deluge associated with this weather resulted in flooding in many areas especially around Ingham, Karumba and Normanton. Police in the Far Northern Region, Northern Region, Central Region and from Operations Support Command worked professionally, competently and with tireless effort to manage the issues associated with the rainfall and flooding while maintaining core policing services.

Mobile police facilities

The project to produce four mobile police facilities, capable of being deployed to planned events, emergencies and major incidents, is managed by Metropolitan North Region.

The first vehicle became operational in April 2008. The second vehicle is due for delivery in late July 2009. The two remaining vehicles are due for operational deployment by the end of 2009.

When the project is completed, two vehicles will be based in Brisbane (Metropolitan North and Metropolitan South), one vehicle in Townsville and a further vehicle on the Gold Coast.

The vehicles are fitted with state-of-the-art voice and data communications, radios capable of operating on all frequencies, including marine and air based frequencies, satellite telephones and computers. The vehicles will be self contained, with their own generators and lighting equipment to allow long term deployment.

The first vehicle has been deployed to a number of operational and non-operational events to allow officers to assess the functionality of the vehicle and provide constructive feedback. Events that the vehicle has been deployed at include a Bracken Ridge rape scene, Currumbin Anzac Day ceremony, Caxton Street Seafood Festival, Greek Paniyiri Festival (2 days), the Doomben races and an incident at Carbrook involving community unrest.

Feedback from operational police indicates overwhelmingly positive support for the vehicle. The project team is considering minor alterations to the original design to further enhance the operational functionality of the vehicle. These alterations are being carried out during the construction of the next three vehicles and then retro-fitted to the original.

Gold Coast District Major Events Planning Unit

Gold Coast District has a Major Events Planning Unit which takes carriage of all major events in the district such as Indy, Gold Coast Marathon, Magic Millions horse racing events, Schoolies, New Years Eve, NRL and AFL football games.

Key future initiatives

Project Vulcan

Project Vulcan is focussed on identifying the traits, nuances, targets and methods of operation of recidivist behavioural arsonists and storing these details on a database. Over the coming year, the database will be enhanced to support QPRIME searches and incident mapping.

A feasibility study will also be undertaken examining possible integration with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) data system, and an offender/associate profile questionnaire will be jointly developed with the QFRS.

Review of QPS Disability Service Plan

The QPS Disability Service Plan which came into effect on 1 July 2007, enhances coordination of existing policy and procedures in respect of service delivery for clients and members with disabilities, their families and carers. The plan provides a focal point for initiation of new policy and procedures.

In an effort to gather information that could provide indicators about what types of services should be provided and where, QPS Policy Unit conducted the QPS Disability Services Survey 2008.

The survey will be repeated in 2010 and the results will be used to inform a comprehensive review of the plan.

CMC Review into Policing Indigenous Communities

In 2007 the CMC undertook a review of issues related to policing in Indigenous communities, including:

• the relationship between the police and people in remote Indigenous communities
• how policing services are currently delivered in Indigenous communities
• changes that should be made to improve the delivery of policing services to remote Indigenous communities
• what can be done to keep people in custody safe.

The review report is expected to be released in the second half of 2009. The QPS will then lead the development of a Government response.

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2009

Central Region will coordinate external security at the Talisman Sabre 09 Event. This is a major defence force exercise with more than 20 000 troops from Australia and overseas taking part in joint defence force exercises in Shoalwater Bay.

Dignitary protection

In August 2009 the QPS, in collaboration with Commonwealth security agencies and the Australian Federal Police, will co-ordinate the security for fifteen Heads of Government attending the Pacific Islands Forum Meetings in Cairns. The Australian Prime Minister will chair the Forum which will also be attended by a number of observers including the Commonwealth Secretary-General and other senior officials and delegates. Staff from State Security Operations Group will lead the intelligence and dignitary protection operations that underpin event security.

2009 Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) State Conference

The 21st NHW State Conference will be held in Brisbane on 2-3 October 2009. The conference will provide a platform to showcase NHW, and launch a new direction for Neighbourhood Watch for 2010 and beyond.