Secureforce want 'priority' status

[Tom]

Morning Folks,

I was asked to sign a petition at work last week as Secureforce are after priority status again for their vehicles when attending incidents on Transperth buses/stations. The petition was to submitted to the Director General of Transport from memory.

Was just wondering what other members opinions are on this topic, I was told they were after similar status to what Western Power have.

They have just bought 6 2003-2004 era Holden Statesman and hope to use these vehicles for their 'urgent duty driving'...

For the record I declined to sign the petition as I gave the reason that if the situation warrants it WAPOL will attend priority. But am open to reason/suggestions from members.

Apparently only a 'select few' will undertake the Urgent duty driving course.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this.

cheers

Tom

[Walks]

hahhahhhAHAHAHAHAHAHhahahaha

Can't stop laughing



Walks.

[Donga]

What next for John Ryan he wants to be able to drive priority. What a joke they get there and then they still need to call WAPOL to deal with the offenders. Then again he probaly wants to have the same power as the police and be able to arrest and prosecute offenders so he dont need the police involved anymore. What a joke I hope they dont get it

[Fastlane]

Hope they arent comparing themselves to Western Power at all. I believe FESA was instrumental in getting approval for WP to do this - primarily 'coz firefighters cant do anything at an electrical incident without WP intervention.

Bit different this one though - the Police are the law enforcers, not Secureforce. If WAPOL requested they have this ability, then it'd be a bit different of course, but I cant see this ever happening.

Also a big concern that they think you need high-powered vehicles to do 'urgent duty driving'. Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen..

[Bungarra]

I wouldn't want Secureforce driving priority, most of them that I have seen can't drive that well as it is and act like they are an arm of WAPOL at some places. Any one ever been in his office?? He used to like to show these "special permits" a couple of years ago supposedly from the CIA and FBI, they can be bought by the box from some US magazines. He also had them on display when he ran the hock shop near the casino.

[vk6hgr]

Considering even Railways security can't drive priority they've got buckley's...

[dazla]

hahahahahaha.......thats funny.

If the Railways, who deal with their own offenders and transport offenders dont have priority status then Secureforce will never have it.

If the situation is that bad then WAPOL will get a priority 2 to attend, I think the Railways might get it soon but who knows.

If secureforce get it then Chubb Security will have to get and so on........................Police, Fire and Ambulance.....

[ZO100_marto]

Sounds like to many people don't really understand the dangers and difficulty in driving under "emergency" conditions. Although FESA like to send a lot of jobs and vehicles out with lights and sirens (I remember even seeing a FESA mechanic driving with lights and sirens once ) Ambo's and especially police are quite strict when it come to authorising this.

More vechiles racing around becomes a danger for all on the roads and if a job "warrants" a priority status it should certainly warrant a police attendance.

BTW also cracks me up that Secureforce are obviously budgeting into the fee from tax payers to lease Stateman's and four wheel drives

Anyways just my 2 cents worth.

[Fastlane]

Sounds like to many people don't really understand the dangers and difficulty in driving under "emergency" conditions. Although FESA like to send a lot of jobs and vehicles out with lights and sirens (I remember even seeing a FESA mechanic driving with lights and sirens once ) Ambo's and especially police are quite strict when it come to authorising this.

Any firecall is lights & sirens - simply because it is a bit hard to assess the impact of a fire or incident from a laypersons description over the telephone. The law does state for fire appliances though, that the exemptions only apply when life may reasonably be considered to be in danger (which in reality, is fairly open ended).

As you say, many dont understand the dangers and difficulty - in fact, most people that have driven under 'emergency conditions' would probably prefer NOT to have to do it at all. There's alot of deaf and blind drivers on WA roads (rear vision mirror? whats that!?)

Unfortunately, theres alot of glory-hounds out there....

[dazla]

I agree, driving under UDD is not fun.....it is quite scary and very dangerous.

Putting on a wailing siren and some flashing lights does not make you bullet proof.

[almo899]

I agree that Secureforce should not be given the authority to run urgent duty driving under any circumstances. Major incidents occuring on buses and bus ports should be dealt with by the police. It really does seem Mr Ryan is intent on establishing a private Transit Police Force.

I have no probs of them using amber lights when appropriate, but believe they are stretching the boundaries by using police-style markings (which i would have no problem with if they use Transperth green colour instead of blue for their vehicle markings). I already wonder what their "emergency response units" are for and also wonder what their multitude of UHF/mobile antennas are for??

The PTA Railway transit guard vehicles are fitted with red lightbars, but can only be used when stationary at an incident on railway property. This is a fair call as the lights can be used to alert motorists of dangers at railway crossings etc, and I've never seen a Western Power response vehicle hurl through a red signal or speed excessively despite rushing to a downed powerline job with lights n sirens.

I would like to see the legitimate reasons Secureforce has for applying for priority/UDD and whether they would still dare to mark up their Statesmans in "police" markings and red lights!!

[Tom]

Yep the Statesman DO have the have Police style markings applied and the orange light-bar on the roof.

They have twin radios in and the VX SS's they use to have had Police scanners fitted.

The Statesman's are a lovely car but totally innappropiate for Security Patrols in my opinion. His staff aren't even allowed to drink or eat in them or use the cup-holders!! Imagine if WAPOL bought that policy in.

Does anyone remember the Burgundy/Shangai Mica VY I Acclaim sedan they used to have with the front orange deck-blaster and LED rear lights mounted to the back windscreen and twin aerials on the back window??

Rumour is that Westrail/PTA are gonna take over the buses anyway, when the contracts expire with Secureforce.

cheers

Tom (and NO I definately don't work for Secureforce either)

[Millsy]

The Statesman's are a lovely car but totally innappropiate for Security Patrols in my opinion. His staff aren't even allowed to drink or eat in them or use the cup-holders!!

You Share the same atitude as my old man and his statesman ...

[WPXZBP]

Secureforce getting priority status? One word... LAUGHABLE!

They are not involved in life-threatening situations - the Police, Ambos and Firies do. I understand why Western Power need it and fully support it. I'm not sure that the SES are allowed to drive priority and, if they do, I'm not convinced they deserve it.

BTW - FESA's policy - if you're a P-Plater or don't have the old B-class licence (now MR class I think) you not allowed to be driving any of their appliances under lights and sirens. As I don't have the "B-class" I don't drive priority.

[Millsy]

Was having a look on there webpage, I noticed these key points under "services"

Our I.C.G. (Incident Control group) Officers are trained and / or certified for:

• Traffic Control

• Infringement Issue

• Advanced / Emergency Driving

• Customer Service

• First Response

• Certificate II and III in Security (Operations)

• Speed Gun Operation

• Breath Testing


mmmm , Let us know what you think !