NCJ Number
66446
Journal
POLICE ASSOCIATION VICTORIA Volume: 47 Issue: 26 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 19,21,23,25,27,29
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE FINDINGS OF THE VICTORIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION SAFETY COMMITTEEE (AUSTRALIA) WITH REGARD TO THE PROVISION AND USE OF FIREARMS IN THE POLICE FORCE ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE SAFETY COMMITTEE WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE DISTRICT DELEGATES AS A RESULT OF NUMEROUS ENQUIRIES FROM MEMBERS. UNDER ITS CHARGE, THE COMMITTEE EXAMINED SEVEN AREAS. THEY INCLUDED THE TYPE OF HANDGUN TO BE USED IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE DISPERSION OF SUCH FIREARMS, THE NUMBER OF HANDGUNS REQUIRED IN THE DEPARTMENT, THE TYPE OF AMMUNITION TO BE USED, THE FREQUENCY OF SERVICING FIREARMS, THE TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF TRAINING, AND THE REQUIRED EQUIPMENT TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUCH FIREARMS. ONE TYPE OF QUESTIONNAIRE WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF EVERY POLICE STATION AND BRANCH WITHIN VICTORIA; ANOTHER TYPE WAS CIRCULATED TO EVERY OPERATIONAL POLICEMAN AND POLICEWOMAN WITH THE STATE. THE 338 RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRE TYPE 1 AND 2,313 RESPONSES TO TYPE 2 INDICATED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE VICTORIA POLICE FORCE ARE POORLY EQUIPPED AND TOTALLY UNDERTRAINED SO THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT ONLY A DANGER TO THEMSELVES BUT TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. SEVENY-FOUR PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS CONSIDER THAT THEY DID NOT RECEIVE PROPER AND SUFFICIENT TRAINING; 56 PERCENT HAD NOT ATTENDED FIREARMS PRACTICE SESSIONS WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. SINCE THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED ITS OWN SAFETY COMMITTEE AND HAS REMEDIED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS BY ALLOCATING MORE MONEY FOR THE PURCHASE OF WEAPONS AND HOLSTERS, THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS COMMITTEE ARE REDUNDANT IN SOME AREAS. THE QUESTIONNAIRES ARE APPENDED. (SAJ)