NSW: Unions claim Ryan failed to consult officers on reforms

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2000
NSW: Unions claim Ryan failed to consult officers on reforms

SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - The New South Wales police officers' union today attacked police
commissioner Peter Ryan for not consulting them over his blueprint for the future direction
of policing in the state.

Under Ryan's plan revealed today, councils would have greater responsibility for noise
complaints and traffic matters while specialist agencies, and the financial community
itself, would free police up by playing a greater role in investigating white collar crime.

But NSW Police Association president Ian Ball said the union was angry that it had
not been consulted.

"The commissioner of police has not spoken to this organisation about his future directions
document at all," Mr Ball said.

He said the union would write to Commissioner Ryan this afternoon expressing its anger
at being left out of the consultation process.

"We are disappointed," Mr Ball said. "This organisation democratically represents police
practitioners."

Releasing the Future Directions 2001-2005 document to reporters, Mr Ryan said the recommendations
were aimed at improving the ability of police to focus on their core responsibilities
of law enforcement.

And he said most of the measures should be up and running by early next year.

Mr Ball said parts of the plan were commendable.

"Policing has become far more dangerous," he said.

"Anything that can be introduced to make it safer for police we would applaud."

But Mr Ball said he feared the concerns of officers in the frontline were being ignored
by the police hierarchy.

"We are a bit concerned that the views of our members are not really being listened
to and there is already an agenda in place," he said.

The union, which is in disagreement with the state government and the police service
over a pay claim, said a lack of adequate remuneration was another reason why the state
was losing so many good officers.

"The reason why we are losing so many, for example commercial crime investigators is
because they are being poached by the other commercial enterprises and being paid significantly
more," he said.

Mr Ball said police officers were particularly concerned about outsourcing some areas
of policing.

"We have some very serious concerns about some of it," Mr Ball said.

"The reality is that if we are funded to do it, does it mean jobs go with it?"

AAP nd/mk/mg

KEYWORD: RYAN UNION

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