If You Have Issues Viewing Or Accessing This File Contact Us at NCJRS.Gov
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. o ft: o ·.:7· (J :::0 Q rr·--"r: --.....---.~- ;,... --T' :~. ,~.;,- .~, -A'1'<'~:_"";.,' . • ~~ _: . r '-c--:",_ ' "- ~'- ,,- " -~, . I' ,. , .... ' , . '" f" Front cover: The solitude of policing in the Queensland Outback is typified ~, , ;'!. \ in this photograph of Senior Constable Gordon THOMAS contacting his tliise station while on patrol west of Bird~)Jille near the South Australian border. 1619 kilometres by road from Brisbane. "'t''''-:-' " Rear cover: • Police activity in one of the most remote country areas of the State ... (Top left) Time for an early morning. chat outside the Birdsville Hotel with the town's publican. (Top right) The Birdsville Police StatIon. home .for the District's only policeman, Senior Constable Gordon ·tHOMAS. (Bottom left) Convoy of travellers seeking police 'assistance in Birdsville, on road conditions and directions before continuing their Journey. (Bottom right). Senior Constable THOMAS swapping storIes with a local stockman durIng his rounds. , . , QUEENSLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT 1 918 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, Mr T. M. LEWIS, G.M., Q.P.M., Dip.Pub.Admin., B.A. FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 1978 N(!J RS· JUl251979 PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT BY COMMAND ACQUISfT~ONS By Authority: S. R. HAMPSOI'f, Government Printer, Brisbane INSIGNIA OF RANK COMMISSIONER CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT SUPERINTENDENT GRADE 1 SUPERINTENDENT GRADE 2 INSPECTOR GRADE 1 INSPECTOR GRADE 2 INSPECTOR GRADE 3 INSPECTOR GRADE 4 SERGEANT l/e SENIOR COI'ISTABI.E CONSTABI.E l/e CONSTABI.E QUEENSLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 9th November, 1978 The Honourable The Minister for Mines, Energy and Police Brisbane Sir, I have the honour to submit the Annual Report of the Queensland Police Department for the twelve months ended June 30, 1978. Despite the need to allocate considerable manpower to the preser vation of public order during the year, I am pleased to be able to say that the overall improvement in results seen in the 1976-77 year continued in the year under review. In fact the overall crime clear up rate of 50·46% for the twelve months was the best in the history of the Police Force. Statistics in the traditional areas of. police responsibility-crime prevention and detection, traffic control and the preservation of the public peace-indicate the dedication and efficiency with which all members of the Department approached their allotted tasks. The heavy increase in work load for all police and the need for additional personnel and equipment is adequately borne out by the details contained in the following report. A considerable upturn in public support for police objectives and an extremely high level of co-operation with all branches of the media were evident throughout the year. Although the Department was subject to some criticism, the reduction in the number of complaints and instances of public censure contributed in no small measure to our improved morale and efficiency. The interest, encouragement and advice of our Ministerial Head during the year has been much appreciated by all members of the Department. The team effort was further enhanced bY' the service and effectiveness of both police c.':nd civilian supportotaff. T. M. Lewis Commissioner of Police TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR 3 CRIME- Selected Crime i l 4 General Crime 4 Total Offences .. 4 Offences Against the Person .. 5 Offences Involving Violence to Property 5 ~:::... Offences by Children 6 Drugs 6 Fraud ., ., .. .. .. 7 Prostitution, Liquor, Gaming and Betting 7 Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicles .. 8 TRAFFIC- Control and Enforcement 9 TRAINING- Queensland Police Academy 10 Queensland Police College 11 Driver Training Wing 11 PUBLIC ORDER General 12 Emergency Squad .. 13 Regional Task Force 14 Task Force Reserve 14 SEARCHES-LAND, SEA AND AIR- " 15 ADMINISTRATION- General 16 Resources-Manpower ., 16 Personnel-Recruiting 17 Brisbane Mobile Patrols 18 Collator System . 18 Combined Operations Group 19 . Consorting Squad 19 Dog Squad .. 20 Drug Squad .. 20 Examinations Branch 21 Fauna Protection Squad 22 Fraud Squad .. 22 Information Bureau " 23 Juvenile Bureau 24 Licensing Branch .. 24 Mounted Police Unit ". 25 Operations Centre 26 Planning and Research Branch 26 Police Air Wing 27 Press Officer •. 27 Priority Committee " 29 Prosecutions Corps .• 29 Public Relations Branch . 29 Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association 31 Radio Maintenance Division 32 Railway Squad 33 Special Crime Squad 33 Stock Squad .. 33 Technical Services Section 34 Water Police .. 35 Resources-Financial 36 Resources-Material Buildings .. 36 Communications .:. 37 Transport 37 Firearms 38 DEPARTMENTAL OBJECTIVES FOR 1978-79 38 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS .. 38 AWARDS 39 HONOUR ROLL 40 APPENDICES- Index of Appendices 42 , I ANNUAL REPORT INTRODUCTION The past 12 months has b{~en a period Press Officer to the Department. There an increase of 7 722, more than offsetting of intense activity in consolidation and has been a significant improvement in the drop of 5081 reported offences in development of the new administration. our liaison '''ith the media which has 1976-77. New policies implemented and the re led to more balanced reports on police In the categories of more serious organisation of existing procedures are actiVities in all areas and an increase in crime such as homicide, robbery, .serious designed to make the best possible use of the outflow of information to the pUblic. assault, rape, attempted rape, fraud, available police resources. Improved publicity, seeking public stealing and l,nlawful use of motor I believe, that in many areas we have assistance in locating missing children, vehicles and breaking and entering been successful in creating a much more sUSpect vehicles, wanted persons, or gen offences, there were 30298 incidents efficient service on behnlf of the people eral information from the public in reported whic11 represented an increase of Queensland. There has been a con relation to offences has been of untold of 21 per cent on the previous year. siderable uplift in morale among police benefit to Departmental investigators. However, the encouraging 4 per cent at all levels and this h:as resulted in We have been able to highlight the increase in the overall mlmber of renewed pride in their vocation as law positive side of police work through fav offences cleared up Jast year was main enforcement officers and a greater dedi ourable articles in newspapers and items tained this year, improving from 38 to cation to their sworn duty of maintain on television and radio. I would like .to 42 per cent. ing law and order in this State. record my appreciation to all those I have already indicated some of the r am delighted to be able to report that members of the media who have worked reasons for this improvement in police the clear-up rate for general crime in so well in harmony with my officers performance. The modern police officer Queensland during the period under during the past year. must be given the means of mobility to at review reached 50·46 per cent, the high- This policy of a more open adminis least match the activities of the con . est success rate ever recorded by the tration has been felt in many areas, not temporary motorised crimina:, who is Queensland Police Department in its the least being the field of crime pre a threat to the community· ·over a much 114 year history. This was entirely due vention. Officers of the Department's wider area than in the past. The con to the magnificent co-operation between Crime Prevention Bureau, as well as tinuing "increase in the stealing and personnel in all section.s of the Depart senior officers, have been promoting unlawful use of motor vehicles and the ment and a much improved rapport with campaigns in an effort to encourage the significant rise in breaking and entering the media and the general pubHc, which public to take greater precautions against offences against private dwellings, shops made the task of detecting offenders the depredations of the criminal and at and other premises underlines this cur easier. the end of the year being reviewed, the rent pattern. It is fair to say that we are develop Department was engaged in preparing the In my last report, I made mention of ing one of the most effective police forces largest concentrated crime prevention the disturbing greater degree of .involve in the Commonwealth and my intention campaign ever mounted in Queensland. ment by young people in the more serious is to ensure that we build on this solid The new Kenmore Police Division, criminal offences. Young people under base for the future. An encouraging which covers the Brisbane suburb of the age of 17 committed 19 per cent aspect of the Department's operations Kenmore and eight surrounding suburbs, of aU offences cleared up during the "J; has been the improvement in recruiting was the centre ofa police-community year. This was a four per cenl. in,crease , co-operative effort against housebreaking. \, standards. The creation of a Recruiting over the juvenile figures for the previous i Selection Panel at the beginning of this A positive result was achieved by the statistical period. Juveniles again were year has ensured that only the finest two months-long campaigll and more active in the area of breakings (46 applicants are selected for entry to the detaiIe.l:l i·~ference wiII be made to this per cent), the stealing and unlawful use of I Queensland Police Academy at .oxley. exercise ill my next annual report. motor vehicles (36 per cent) and general In fact, only 23 per cent 'of the original It is regrettable that, despite the st::aling offences (35 per cent). (These ! applicants were regarded by the Selection increased activity of police officers and percentages relate ·to cleared offences).