August 2000 Volume 81 Number 8 "serving the protectors"

SAPOL Plain-Vehicle Specifications

Without any employee consultation, SAPOL has altered its departmental policy on unmarked police patrol cars. These cars consequently underwent specification changes in April this year.

Vitally important components with which they were fitted before SAPOL’s policy amendment included:

• Passenger airbag.
• ABS brakes.
• Sports suspension.
• Heavy-duty wiring.

None of the employees expected to drive these substantially altered cars has been provided with any retraining. And the changes are inconsistent with the ACPR (Australasian Centre for Policing Research) document, National Specifications for General Duty Patrol and High Speed Vehicles. Given that SAPOL subscribes to the ACPR, this inconsistency seems, at the very least, curious.

The Police Association contends that, in this issue, SAPOL has breached sections 19, 20 and 34 of the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act. Accordingly, the association has advised both WorkCover and the Police Minister.

Further, the association contends that the decision to downgrade these cars’ safety equipment is inconsistent with the performance standards for self-insured employers.

The Police Association is gravely concerned about its members’ safety in these cars. And the ramifications for the employer – should a member be injured – are blatantly obvious.


Peter Alexander
President

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