Today Tonight Report Police Forced to Make Targets

This was sent to me and it is concerning.  In the community we want to feel safe and we want to feel that if we are booked it is fair.  If it is about making quota regardless of whether the crime happened or not it then creates distrust.  The trust between citizens and themselves is crucial in ensuring social stability.  If people believe Police are dishonest and fines unfair then they lose trust.  In the video below a citizen in South Australia reports that he went through a green light and was booked.  He had to go to court three times until it was finally adjourned. There are questions around why it was not adjourned at the first hearing.  Surely there would not have been evidence showing he had run a red light if it were true. The Police would have cameras in their cars.

The issue for Police, according to this report, is that there is a belief that the government is placing pressure on them to reach targets and superior officers are enforcing it rather than questioning it in the public interest.  Another important question for them is – are they a police force or service?  Will they speak up if they believe illegality and corruption is happening.  Clearly in this report they have.  The fact chose to go to the media sends the message that they were unable to go through official channels to be heard.  Other senior Police may not have backed them given government pressure.  This is an issue that must be resolved through an Integrity Commission where people can report suspected crime or corruption without risk.

I thank the officers in this report for caring enough about fairness and citizens to speak up. That is what is needed now as our world is changing.  We are in this together in truth.  We are all citizens.

Truth and integrity matters.

https://www.todaytonightadelaide.com.au/stories/police-revenue