February 2002 Volume 83 Number 2 "serving the protectors"

PASA 90-year dinner

Dear Sir

May I commend PASA for the 90-year celebration dinner, which combined as a fundraising event in support of the victims of the September 11 attack on America, recently held at the Adelaide Town Hall. The formal nature of the event was matched by a very stylish and friendly evening, which gave prominent effect to honouring PASA’s legacy and the men and women who have contributed to it.

The broad attendance of community members was especially notable as it reinforces the general regard in which police officers, and the work they undertake, are held. This is easily overlooked during the daily routines of policing and we would all do well to regularly reflect on this positive affirmation as we go about our task.

It was especially pleasing to see Mr Robert Brokenshire, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, and Mr Pat Conlon, Opposition Spokesperson for Police and Emergency Services, combine their “talents” during the fundraising auction. Although (with respect) they would do well to retain their “day jobs”, they powerfully symbolized the importance of non-partisanship.

This is a strong police ethic which is central to our sense of purpose. As our social structures become more imbued with competitive values, as “law and order” issues become more contentious and complex, and notwithstanding different political policies, it is important that public officials reinforce their non-partisan support for policing’s focus on the common good if we are to retain a healthy approach to our task. Without it, positive service delivery, and police morale and satisfaction, is fraught.

For those members who missed the event, don’t be deterred by the formal nature of it if there is a 100-year celebration dinner.
Yours faithfully
MG (Fred) Trueman
Chairman
Police Health

Acknowledge loyal service

Dear Andy

I am concerned about retired police officers who retired prior to 1998 and should be entitled to receive the police medal.

I was employed from April 20, 1954 to July 8, 1993, my conduct was very good (no breach of regulations) and I was proud to be a police officer and member of the Police Association of SA.

It seems unfair to me that I and other retired police officers are not entitled to a police medal.

I am aware that other members of the armed forces are allowed 50 years to claim their medals. I cannot see that it should matter when the police officer retired – he should be entitled to the medal.

After all, he gave his best to serve the state and police force and I feel this loyal service should be acknowledged.

I thank the association for allowing retired police officers to become members. I was a proud member for nearly 40 years and am proud to be a member again.
R. Roberts
Retired Senior Sergeant

Suggestion offensive

Dear Andy

I am compelled to make comments on the article Segregation and Pay Inequity (Police Journal, November 2001) by Ms Margaret Hogan of the Police Association (Victoria).

Firstly, I note that Ms Hogan has not stated that the examples cited are in fact cases of pay inequity and discrimination. She quite fairly has said that the Police Federation – Women’s Advisory Committee is of the view that the issues raised need to be more fully explored.

The sub-headline, which states that “…Margaret Hogan, highlights two cases of discrimination”, I presume was the work of a sub-editor and does not truly reflect the contents of Ms Hogan’s article.

As you would be aware, I held the position of Industrial Relations (now Employee Relations) officer-in-charge during the periods 1987-1989 and 1994-1998 and during my initial posting was responsible for EEO in the workplace.

The facts relating to the Sexual Assault Section and the classification rank of constable are:

• In 1987-88, as a result of an initiative of the (then) Department of Personnel & Industrial Relations and SAPOL’s senior executive group, the banding structure was introduced.

• One of the implementation tasks was the classification of all positions within SAPOL and to this end, a tripartite committee was established with representatives of DPIR, SAPOL and the Police Association.

• All positions were classified in terms of both responsibility (rank) and skill (banding level). The rank component was, in very simple terms, judged on the level of responsibility of the position, being either responsibility for staff or a function. As indicated, the skill component related purely to the banding level.

• I was part of that committee and subsequently became the chairperson of the Police Classification Committee.

• It was acknowledged that the members of the SAS played a very important role in the reporting and investigation of sexual offences. As described in Ms Hogan’s article, they are primarily involved in the preparation of statements of victims, providing support to those victims, facilitating the gathering of forensic evidence, arranging counselling for the victims, giving evidence in court, public lectures, etc. However, in terms of classifying the rank for these positions, there were selected benchmarks against which all positions were measured. The committee at that time considered that these positions equated with a number of other constable positions within the organization in terms of responsibility. For example, the patrol-officer positions in the metro area and the general-duties constable positions in the country, have substantial responsibility in their own right, considering the range of duties performed – e.g. first on scene at incidents, investigation of offences, interviewing suspects, arrest and bail procedures, giving evidence, assisting victims, coroner’s reports, vehicle crash reports, and the list goes on. The committee determined that the positions in SAS did not have a significantly higher degree of responsibility than those positions.

• The senior constable positions were adjudged to have either responsibility for staff or a function. As an example of the latter, the CIB investigator positions were classified at senior constable level, albeit that, at that time, the person was not appointed to the rank until some time after entry into the CIB, when they had met all of the position competencies enabling them to be given the full responsibilities of the job. The committee determined that a fully qualified and competent investigator was an investigation unit in his/her own right and that they had significant responsibility for a function. In other words, it was determined that a detective should be able to work with complete autonomy and be able to satisfactorily undertake any type of investigation allocated to him/her without the need for any supervision. In terms of comparing the SAS positions to that of investigator, the committee determined that the SAS positions did not have the same level of responsibility.

Any remote suggestion that the committee was influenced by the fact that the positions in SAS were occupied by women when recommending that the positions should be at the constable level is totally invalid and indeed offensive to those involved in the process. I am, and was then, cognizant of the subtleties of indirect discrimination, and am the first to agree that there have been several examples in the past of the organization unwittingly subjecting employees to both direct and indirect discrimination. Access to part-time employment, country housing for single employees, career opportunities and compulsory residential courses are just some examples.

I note that the “banding” system was replaced in 1998 as part of the second enterprise agreement and I am not now completely familiar with the current classification criteria. However, within the organization, there are many other sworn and unsworn positions which make valuable contributions to SAPOL’s objectives that are classified at the lower levels, with no better example than our general-duties officers throughout the LSAs who deliver our frontline services.
Yours sincerely
John B Dicker
Operations Support Service

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