TEGS......................or the end of.........

[danny]

Comments about below article ?

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0 ... 61,00.html

Nicole Cox

March 22, 2008 05:00pm
SPECIALIST police officers could be diverted from traffic duties to man school crossings, and respond to restraining orders, violent shoplifters and domestic disputes.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Wayne Gregson has directed Traffic Enforcement Group officers to attend Priority One and Two incidents, supervise school crossings and attend traffic-related jobs _ duties now done by officers in individual police districts.

Priority One tasks are urgent, life-threatening incidents, including armed hold-ups and where weapons are being wielded.

Priority Two jobs are volatile situations such as violent offenders being held, shots fired, assaults in progress, stealing with violence, serious domestic incidents, aggressive shoplifters and breaches of restraining orders.

In a March 14 memo to traffic and operations Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Gilbert, Mr Gregson ordered the charter of the Traffic Enforcement Group be amended so the squad could be directed by the Police Operations Centre.

It is understood the move comes after a flood of complaints from district stations to police chiefs about a lack of staff, poor response times and increased responsibilities, including having to man school crossings because of a severe shortage of crossing attendants.

Senior police from the Traffic Enforcement Group this week said they were unable to speak to The Sunday Times about the directive.

But several other officers, who did not want to be named, said the changes would seriously compromise the ability of traffic officers to enforce road laws and improve road safety.
Some feared the dedicated traffic squad would soon be scrapped.

"We are the only unit doing the enforcement,'' an officer said. "In effect, this will make us another police station, not a specialist unit.''

Officers said the squad, set up in February 2005, already attended life-threatening and urgent jobs if required. Its officers last year attended 700 non-traffic related incidents.

Each week, the squad issues more than 1000 infringements for traffic offences.
Mr Gregson told The Sunday Times that the memo was issued to make ``crystal clear'' the tasks TEG officers are expected to attend.

"This is really just about making sure that we can respond to calls for assistance from the public with the closest available trained resource, which includes the TEG,'' Mr Gregson said.

"I accept the fact that they believe their core duty is traffic, but my response to that is that their core duty is being police officers.

"I was getting the sense that they thought they were wholly and solely traffic enforcement officers ... corporately we've got pressure with response times. Sometimes there is a need for everybody to take the global perspective.''

Mr Gregson did not believe the extra duties, including manning school crossings, would reduce the group's effectiveness in targeting traffic offences.

"I don't want to give (crossing duties) to any constable in any district,'' he said.

"I think it requires a little bit of skill and training and we need to centralise that duty.

"The idea there is to relieve the districts of that responsibility on most occasions.

"It's about having patrol cars out there and on the road and seen by people, and making that law-enforcement contribution.

"It's a question of balance. What is the best method for reducing the road toll? In terms of law enforcement, I think it's a combination of both giving out tickets, in terms of hardline enforcement, but also being highly visible.''

Forty-four people have died on WA roads this year. Last year, 235 people were killed -- a 10-year record high.

[JPhillips]

I think for only P1 and when needed (not enough cars) for P2. Ive noticed a couple of weeks ago for a while in the mornings and afternoon there would be a policemen at a school crossing in varhland? ave and he would usally be there with a eldely attendant and have his bike there but they should offer more money for the old people

[Tyranus]

Interesting article.
Highlights really a couple of issues, but doesn't actually address them. The main issue is that general police stations don't have enough staff...hey what's new.
With some regards I think the use of TEG for other incidents could work, if a car, or bike is in the area doing patrols and a job comes up that needs to be looked at, then they get sent. If it's just routine enquiries that is not urgent and just needs to be looked at then really unless it could be related to a traffic incident then it should be dealt with locally. Reality is any police officer can charge someone with a traffic infringement. I still think the idea of having a dedicated traffic team is very good as it allows the police to target "presumeably" the most common crimes.
Really if a car or bike assists with doing crossing duties for the morning and afternoon it isn't going to do a lot of harm. If you want to make it effective send a team of 3 and have 2 doing lasers while 1 stops the cars for the kids.
If an officer is on his way to a non-urgent job is he able to pull someone over for a traffic breach? (speeding, failing to indicate etc.)

[robbage]

Employ more police.
Pay police more money.
Provide better incentives for people to sign up and for members to stay.
Water is wet

[playworth]

Employ more police.
Pay police more money.
Provide better incentives for people to sign up and for members to stay.
Water is wet

good luck PM illvote for u

[Walks]

Danny, you would look great holding a couple of orange flags each day

Wrong use of the term 'specialist'........should be more like 'dedicated traffic'.

Walks.

P.S. see you at the next domestic

[yorky]

Walks.

P.S. see you at the next domestic

Oh Snap.

But anyway my view is TEG should be able to go to P1/P2 for initial support but shouldn't have to hang around and get back to those infringements! Sounds like TEG's need more personal as well as GD's.

[danny]

Danny, you would look great holding a couple of orange flags each day

Wrong use of the term 'specialist'........should be more like 'dedicated traffic'.

Walks.

P.S. see you at the next domestic

Those flags would fit nicely up your ....

Domestic? Bit hard if i have a 317 on board

[Ausrob]

Outsource office work, 1 police officer per car then we don't need TEG as their will be plenty of cars on road to do random stops.

I agree however step one is paying them more money, they have a tough job and what incentive do they have to stay in the job

[danny]

Outsource office work, 1 police officer per car then we don't need TEG as their will be plenty of cars on road to do random stops.

OH&S means 2 officers per car, better safety

With traffic work 2 officers seeing the same thing is alot better evidence than the old one on one.

[playworth]

Outsource office work, 1 police officer per car then we don't need TEG as their will be plenty of cars on road to do random stops.

I agree however step one is paying them more money, they have a tough job and what incentive do they have to stay in the job

hello USA cops

[Ausrob]

You ride a bike don't you

Maybe we can get you a sidecart

In relation to the problem you pointed out officers word vs poi, I actually contacted WAPOL and the minister for police last year and suggested onboard camera's in all vehicles but they said they had not found any that were suitable in field testing?

Which I believe is bullshit because in the US they've been using them for 15 years atleast.

[playworth]

You ride a bike don't you

Maybe we can get you a sidecart

In relation to the problem you pointed out officers word vs poi, I actually contacted WAPOL and the minister for police last year and suggested onboard camera's in all vehicles but they said they had not found any that were suitable in field testing?

Which I believe is bullshit because in the US they've been using them for 15 years atleast.

actually they are testing cameras (hats)..
cop wears A hat and camera.. they are testing it isnt that right walks??

[Always RX]

I think it is rediculous to expect officers tasked with a specialist duty to be diverted to cover general duties staffing shortfalls (except the crossing duties, this kinda makes sense to me ...one bloke can wave the flags and the other can wave the Ultralyte) . The core problem is a lack of general duties police and all this talk smacks of a bandaid solution.
Why are we just picking on the TEG ? I am sure the Organised crime unit , Mounted section , Water police and Air wing would also be happy to soak up the `Corporate pressure` and will be thinking only of the `Global perspective` as they attend the local Woolworths violent shoppy job. Afterall their core duty is being police officers.
Seriously , Keep the TEG on the road where they belong and get more coppers!! Its not bloody rocket science!

[yorky]

I am sure the Organised crime unit , Mounted section , Water police and Air wing would also be happy to

OCU, there heads should be stuck into the case files.
Where would they park the horses?
Where would they park the boat?
Where would they park the chopper?

I see what you mean but I think they see TEG as being on the road in the same areas as GD's so they get picked on first already having the equipment and vehicles.