Dec 2000 Volume 81 Number 12 "serving the protectors"

Relations doomed?

Recent SAPOL Internal Investigation Branch actions have given the Police Association grave concern about its future relations with the watchdog outfit. Informal but longstanding arrangements - which PASA has considered satisfactory - seem doomed to regrettable change.

The situation is lamentable, given the good working relations which have previously existed between PASA and internal investigators.

Enquiries - of the “routine” type - have until now been arranged and undertaken at times convenient for investigators, association members and PASA officials.

And Police Association officials have always attended those critical-incident scenes of which SAPOL/IIB has advised them.

But PASA recently raised with Commissioner Mal Hyde the issue of looming change to IIB’s manner of dealing.

He responded by indicating his support for a recent IIB action which the Police Association found wholly inappropriate: the interview of a member at 5am for a non-critical incident.

Association members are entitled to PASA support and representation during interviews; and those PASA services will, of course, continue. SAPOL’s change in attitude to employee needs during non-critical incidents, however, is clearly detrimental to officers’ interests. This clearly fails to enhance SAPOL’s service provision to members.

Payment long overdue

Complaints over the failure to reimburse officers their DETE (formerly DETAFE) fees (from semester 1 this year) have streamed into the Police Association offices in recent weeks.

On this unacceptable situation, PASA clearly expressed its concern to Commissioner Mal Hyde in October. He has not responded.

One letter from a senior PASA official to Commissioner Hyde sought “immediate action in providing reimbursement to members for DETAFE fees”.

Sadly, SAPOL staff falsely advised out-of-pocket officers that the reimbursement delay was attributable to the Police Association. This assertion is absolute tripe.

This issue is in no way connected to the Police Association’s claim for 100 per cent reimbursement of fees - as opposed to the current figure of 75 per cent.

Given that officers paid these fees 10 months ago, SAPOL must act to streamline its processes and ensure prompt reimbursement - for every semester.

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