Article: Fear grips off-duty police

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail click here!

Fear grips off-duty police

Fear grips off-duty police

    * Daniel Knowles
    * From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
    * April 10, 2010 5:50PM

QUEENSLAND police officers are changing out of their uniforms for fear of being targeted while off duty on Brisbane trains.

According to an anonymous letter to the Queensland Police Union Journal, one officer complained that high-ranking officers were concerned uniformed police were hiding under plain shirts and jackets to avoid attention.

"Many of our members travel on public transport and often make use of a cover shirt in order to prevent harassment and possibly being assaulted by some of the undesirable passengers," the letter says.

"I am also fully aware of the reason police wearing uniform on public transport is to provide a high visibility, however, with due respect to those who hold plain clothes positions and also utilise public transport, one has to question the validity of the high-visibility concept.

"Members work their required hours and as such should then be afforded the opportunity to travel home without having some grub, who probably doesn't have a ticket, give them a hard time."

Police travel free on TransLink public transport by showing their badge, whether in uniform or plain clothes, on and off duty.

A Queensland Rail spokesman said passengers benefited from police travelling on trains.

"In our experience, the presence of uniformed officers on QR services helps to reduce the incidence of antisocial behaviour," he said.

"Off-duty and plain clothes officers also assist transit officers with curbing antisocial behaviour, and have demonstrated their willingness and ability to identify and curb antisocial behaviour before it escalates.

"QR appreciates the assistance."

According to the TransLink policy, police travelling free are to stand to allow fare-paying passengers to have a seat when services are busy.

[Golliwog]

I've always thought that a good mix of uniformed and plain clothed cops was best anyway. How many times do you see people change what they do just while a uniform is around before going right back to what they were doing wrong as soon as they're gone?

Though, I think its a sad pointer to the people of Brisbane that we would have a go at someone just because they are a cop.

[longboi]

Put it this way Golliwog; If you are going home from a hard day at work the last thing you want is some dipsh%t mouthing off about you. Having said that I'm sure its not so much officers that are afraid of being harassed, I'd say its more just to stop the stares and/or constantly ask dumb questions.

Anyway, I'd like to think most Police officers would intervene whenever necessary, uniform or no uniform.

[Golliwog]

I wasn't saying that I think some should stay in uniform, the cops who are on duty should be. For the ones heading home I think its fine if they don't wear their uniform.

[longboi]

I wasn't saying that I think some should stay in uniform, the cops who are on duty should be. For the ones heading home I think its fine if they don't wear their uniform.

Well that is what this article is about 

[Golliwog]

The article was saying that they thought officers who caught the train home should be in uniform. I was saying that I disagreed, and that having police in plain clothes like that was a good thing. I think I'm pretty awesome at confusing people sometimes....

[Derwan]

These police officers deal with criminals on a day-to-day basis.  I'm sure they are abused and harassed by the scum they have to deal with.

And now they're worried that they might have to deal with a little bit more?  Grow some balls!!

Police swear an oath to serve and protect at all times - not just while on duty.  They receive free train travel in return for assisting if the need arises.

If they're wearing cover shirts, I think it's more likely that they simply don't want to be obligated to assist - rather than out of fear for their safety.