A meeting held this afternoon of in excess of 100 Police Association members across all ranks, up to and including the rank of Superintendent, unanimously voiced their strong disapproval towards changes to the Police Regulation Act being proposed by the Chief Commissioner and the Government.

The meeting has given the Association a clear direction and mandate to fiercely resist these changes, which if implemented, will severely erode the rights of members and their families.

Members at the meeting unanimously carried the following resolutions;

"THIS MEETING NOTES WITH OUTRAGE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED BY THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER AND THE GOVERNMENT TO THE POLICE REGULATION ACT THAT WILL SEVERELY ERODE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF POLICE OFFICERS."

"THIS MEETING CALLS ON THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER AND THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE PROGRESS OF THESE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE POLICE REGULATION ACT THAT WILL ADVERSELY IMPACT ON POLICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES".

"THIS MEETING CALLS ON THE POLICE ASSOCIATION TO UNDERTAKE ALL POSSIBLE ACTION TO RESIST THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHANGES TO THE POLICE REGULATION ACT, INCLUDING THE SCHEDULING OF A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES".

"THIS MEETING CALLS ON THE POLICE ASSOCIATION TO PURSUE WITH GOVERNMENT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLICE CAREER SERVICES COMMISSION AND TO IMPROVE THE SAFEGUARDS CONTAINED IN SECTION 123 OF THE POLICE REGULATION ACT TO INDEMNIFY POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS STATE AGAINST ANY FORM OF CIVIL ACTION".

"THAT THIS MEETING UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSES THE TAKING OF UNPROTECTED INDUSTRIAL ACTION IF THIS ISSUE REMAINS UNRESLOVED TO THE SATIFACTION OF OUR MEMBERS."

"THAT THIS MEETING CALLS ON THE POLICE ASSOCIATION TO DRAFT A MEMBERS’ CHARTER OF RIGHTS IN ORDER TO ASSIST IN IMMEDIATELY STOPPING THESE PROPOSED CHANGES FROM BEING IMPLEMENTED."

The Association will be staging similar urgent meetings of members over the next fortnight on this crucial issue. Members can rest assured that the Association will carry out these resolutions at the earliest opportunity.

Paul Mullett