August 2002 Volume 83 Number 8
"serving the protectors"
| August 2002 Volume 83 Number 8 "serving the protectors" |
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News of the plight of the Police Club shocked many when it appeared in the June Police Journal this year. Peter Alexander outlined in his President’s Message (Police Club under threat) that the club had suffered a serious decline in trade.
That had occurred, he explained, through the movement of police personnel away from the now demolished Angas St police building, officers’ “changing social pursuits” and various other factors.
But, five days after the journal’s June 1 release, ABC Radio News ran its own report on what it contended was the cause of the club’s difficulties. It did not, in this report, rely solely on the facts contained in Mr Alexander’s President’s Message.
The station, 5AN, aired the report in its midday bulletin. Reporter Allan Calleja took up the story from a newsreader’s intro, saying:
…with the change of police culture – brought on by strict drink-driving laws and officers no longer willing to risk their careers by turning a blind eye to inebriated colleagues – many officers have abandoned the club.
The Police Association – rightly outraged by what it saw as an unsubstantiated claim of its members looking the other way – wrote a strongly-worded letter of complaint to ABC chairman, Donald McDonald.
In its letter, the association suggested that, if Mr Calleja had evidence of its members turning a blind eye, he should inform the Police Complaints Authority. The association also indicated that it believed apologies from Messrs McDonald and Calleja would be appropriate.
In a return letter, ABC Corporate Affairs director, Geoff Crawford, offered no apology but explained his understanding that:
…three police sources confirmed the veracity of the statement in contention but their identities could not be revealed without breaching their confidentiality.
Mr Crawford acknowledged, however, that:
…the report should have included the words, “According to a number of police sources…”
The Police Journal harbours no wish to be a media watchdog; and it appreciates the importance of protecting sources – it has itself done so in recent years, and would do so again.
However, as Mr Crawford indicated in his letter, reports should – even if not by name – identify their sources. One would hope the ABC pays due attention to this practice in the future.
The ever-smiling Des “Blue” Clark was, as most in the police community would know, a stalwart of the SA police band. He served with distinction and, as his colleagues have said in Music in his blood, he will be missed.
His dedication to the band, his will to see it serve as encouragement to the less fortunate, and his good-humoured nature, inspired many.
The Police Journal wishes Blue and his wife, Margaret, happiness in retirement.
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