Latest news with #PoliceAssociation
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Five officers moved amid reports of rift within Pathanamthitta police
Amid reports of a growing rift between the District Police Chief (DPC) in Pathanamthitta and the Police Association, five officers, including the district president of the association, have been shunted out of the office of the Additional Superintendent of Police (SP). While the department maintains that the transfer of these officials to the district headquarters were made for 'administrative convenience,' official sources suggest the abrupt move was triggered by escalating tensions between the DPC and the association. The development also coincides with reports that departmental action is being considered against senior officers over alleged lapses in registering a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) case involving a senior High Court lawyer. Sources indicate that the transfers were prompted by suspicions that internal information regarding the case had been leaked to the media from the Additional SP's office. Already suspended Though two officers, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, have already been suspended in connection with the case, the controversy continues to deepen. The chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee has reportedly approached the Chief Minister, accusing the police leadership of shielding senior officers while scapegoating juniors. Besides the POCSO case, accountability in the death of a man, who was found hanging after being released from custody at the Koipuram police station, is also under scrutiny. While a Circle Inspector has already been suspended, there is growing speculation that the case may prompt disciplinary action at the DIG level as well. Meanwhile, the Police department has denied initiating any targeted disciplinary measures and clarified that 'the office of the Additional SP neither has sanctioned posts nor designated staff strength.'
Otago Daily Times
01-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Influential West Coast cop honoured
A police officer made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in Monday's King's Birthday Honours says she is humbled and deeply honoured to be recognised. Greymouth's Senior Constable Terri Middleton is a school community officer. Over more than three decades, police in a statement said she had worked with victims of child abuse and family harm, in drug education, helping youngsters in and out of school, with the Blue Light charity and inside the Gloriavale community. She joined the police in 1991, and spent most of the first decade of her career as an interviewer and investigating child abuse. In 2002 she became the West Coast school community officer, and was "instrumental in delivering education and prevention initiatives into all West Coast schools, as well as volunteering thousands of hours to local organisations, sporting clubs and charity events". "It is a privilege to be involved in so many people's life experiences," she said. "I am passionate about helping people and trying to make a difference and for this to happen you need to be well supported by others." Middleton thanked the police leadership team and colleagues, as well as her family. "I very much want to thank them as I know it isn't easy for any family to have a police officer in the mix - there are definitely some challenges. I very much appreciate their love and support as I couldn't do my job without them." Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said it was "impossible to count the lives Middleton has changed for the better, or quantify the harm prevented by her engagement with some of the most vulnerable people in our society". "I'm proud of the great work our people do every day to support their communities and, as a former Tasman District Commander, especially proud to see this honour go to a Tasman colleague who exemplifies the very best of community policing." Other work Middleton had been involved in included chairing the West Coast Blue Light branch since 2010, preventing drug use and being the West Coast health and safety area representative for the Police Association and a welfare officer. She led engagement with the school principal of Gloriavale Christian Community, which "led to a multi-agency response of active engagement with Gloriavale, enabling her to build trust and co-deliver a range of initiatives that would otherwise have not been introduced to the young people of the community", police said.
West Australian
26-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Shopping centre brawl sharpens focus on bail laws blitz
Questions are being raised about tough bail laws as it is revealed three people charged over a violent shopping centre brawl were on bail. Shoppers and workers ran for their lives when a wild fight broke out between rival gangs armed with machetes at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north on Sunday afternoon. A man, 20, was hospitalised with serious head injuries following the violence which is suspected to have involved about 10 people. One of the alleged machete attackers was pinned to the ground in a daring citizen's arrest. It's been revealed two boys, aged 15 and 16, and man, 20, who have been charged over the brawl, were on bail. Another man, 18, has also been charged while police are confident they will soon arrests three others who they say are on the run. The violence prompted an immediate ban on the sale of machetes longer than 20 centimetres from noon on Wednesday. Possessing the weapons will be outlawed as planned from September followed by a three-month amnesty period. Harsher bail laws came into effect in April to respond to surging youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts, which Premier Jacinta Allan described as "tough" legislation. Hundreds of people ran in fear during Sunday's brawl that "simply shouldn't happen", Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said. "It devastates me to think that if we have the toughest bail laws in Victoria then how could that have happened?" Mr Gatt told reporters on Monday. "When those people find their way to court and if courts find those proper guilty ... courts need look at those images, consider the faces on those Victorians, and start to sentence accordingly." "That's what needs to change. "Because ultimately that is really the only thing that's going to stop this sort of behaviour in its tracks." Opposition Leader Brad Battin took aim at the laws, saying community safety must be prioritised. "This is yet another example of Labor's weak justice system failing Victorians," Mr Battin said. "To learn that three of the four arrested over the Northland machete attack were out on bail is outrageous and completely unacceptable." Victoria Police Superintendent Kelly Lawson said the brawl did not happen at random, telling reporters rival gangs had arranged a meeting at the centre's food court before the fight erupted. "It is said to have been an act of retaliation," she said. The two teens charged over the attack did not apply for bail as they faced court on Monday charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, using a controlled weapon without lawful excuse and affray while on bail. One will return to court later this week and the other in June. A Bundoora man, 18, has been charged with affray and intentionally causing injury while a Thornbury man, 20, was hit with the same charges and committing an indictable offence on bail. They were each granted bail on Tuesday and will next face court in July.
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Shopping centre brawl sharpens focus on bail laws blitz
Questions are being raised about tough bail laws as it is revealed three people charged over a violent shopping centre brawl were on bail. Shoppers and workers ran for their lives when a wild fight broke out between rival gangs armed with machetes at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north on Sunday afternoon. A man, 20, was hospitalised with serious head injuries following the violence which is suspected to have involved about 10 people. One of the alleged machete attackers was pinned to the ground in a daring citizen's arrest. It's been revealed two boys, aged 15 and 16, and man, 20, who have been charged over the brawl, were on bail. Another man, 18, has also been charged while police are confident they will soon arrests three others who they say are on the run. The violence prompted an immediate ban on the sale of machetes longer than 20 centimetres from noon on Wednesday. Possessing the weapons will be outlawed as planned from September followed by a three-month amnesty period. Harsher bail laws came into effect in April to respond to surging youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts, which Premier Jacinta Allan described as "tough" legislation. Hundreds of people ran in fear during Sunday's brawl that "simply shouldn't happen", Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said. "It devastates me to think that if we have the toughest bail laws in Victoria then how could that have happened?" Mr Gatt told reporters on Monday. "When those people find their way to court and if courts find those proper guilty ... courts need look at those images, consider the faces on those Victorians, and start to sentence accordingly." "That's what needs to change. "Because ultimately that is really the only thing that's going to stop this sort of behaviour in its tracks." Opposition Leader Brad Battin took aim at the laws, saying community safety must be prioritised. "This is yet another example of Labor's weak justice system failing Victorians," Mr Battin said. "To learn that three of the four arrested over the Northland machete attack were out on bail is outrageous and completely unacceptable." Victoria Police Superintendent Kelly Lawson said the brawl did not happen at random, telling reporters rival gangs had arranged a meeting at the centre's food court before the fight erupted. "It is said to have been an act of retaliation," she said. The two teens charged over the attack did not apply for bail as they faced court on Monday charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, using a controlled weapon without lawful excuse and affray while on bail. One will return to court later this week and the other in June. A Bundoora man, 18, has been charged with affray and intentionally causing injury while a Thornbury man, 20, was hit with the same charges and committing an indictable offence on bail. They were each granted bail on Tuesday and will next face court in July.
ABC News
22-05-2025
- ABC News
Victoria Police to shorten training course to boost policing
Victoria Police is introducing a shorter training program for new recruits designed to boost policing numbers to improve community safety. The force says the new 25-week program is an overhaul of its existing 31-week training course which has not changed significantly in content for 15 years. Police recruits will still complete a Diploma of Policing, which remains unchanged in length at 116 weeks. "The new program will be more practical and interactive, with a greater emphasis on receiving mentoring from experienced officers, while supporting victims, patrolling the community, responding to incidents and keeping the roads safe," an official media statement said. "It's envisaged the changes will allow more rapid deployment of new police to support the hardworking frontline." The first in-take for the new course will start in mid-July. Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said there had been feedback from recent graduates that the training program was inefficient. "Our newest members have told us that there's a degree of repetition," he told ABC Radio Melbourne. "They have told us that some of the training isn't fit for purpose and doesn't actually match the training needs of police when they actually hit the streets, so it under-prepares them." He said the use of tasers would go into the new training program for the first time, to complement the deployment of tasers across the force. And he said concerns about youth crime were a factor driving changes to training. "We'd say we've got an endemic situation out there that is youth crime," Mr Gatt said. "Our members are seeing more dangerous circumstances with these offenders. It requires a nuance in the way they're taught to have to adjust to that." He said changes to field placements would make new officers "more active, more quickly". "The real training starts when you leave the academy and you start in a workplace with seasoned, experienced police officers to guide you," he said. Mr Gatt said there were currently 1,100 vacancies in the Victorian police force and 800 people on sick leave.
