Police Association Delegates from across the state attended a special delegates’ meeting yesterday to voice their strong disapproval toward proposed changes to the Police Regulation Act being proposed by the Chief Commissioner and the Government.

The delegates, who attended the meeting in their own time, unanimously denounced the proposed changes and recommended a course of proposed action to resist these changes for the consideration of a mass meeting of members at Dallas Brooks Hall on Sunday 7 August, commencing at 11am.

The following resolutions were carried by the delegates, and subsequently endorsed at a meeting of the Police Association Executive, which followed yesterday’s special delegates’ meeting.

"THIS MEETING OF ASSOCIATION DELEGATES 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 OF ASSOCIATION DELEGATES 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 OF ASSOCIATION DELEGATES CALLS ON THE POLICE ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE 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 OF ASSOCIATION DELEGATES 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 OF ASSOCIATION DELEGATES ENDORSES THE TAKING OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION, AS OUTLINED IN THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION STRATEGY, IF THIS ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED."

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

"AS A RESULT OF CONTINUING UNFAIR PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT OUR MEMBERS, THIS MEETING OF ASSOCIATION DELEGATES ENDORSES A RESOLUTION OF CENSURE AGAINST THE POLICE OMBUDSMAN, MR GEORGE BROUWER."

"AS A RESULT OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE POLICE REGULATION ACT, THIS MEETING OF ASSOCIATION DELEGATES ENDORSES A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER."

"THAT THIS MEETING OF ASSOCIATION DELEGATES RECOMMEND TO THE POLICE ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE IMMEDIATE COMMUNICATION TO THE BROADER MEMBERSHIP RELATIVE TO A RESPONSE TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER’S RECENT E-MAIL ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE POLICE REGULATION ACT."

The Association will be sending further information to every member regarding this important issue, and visiting further workplaces, ahead of next Sunday’s Special General meeting of Members at Dallas Brooks Hall on Sunday 7 August, commencing at 11am.

PAUL MULLETT