Q&A
Is police station security adequate? From top: Senior Constable 1C Mitch Hellams, Constable Gabriella Capponi and Senior Constable Scott Prime.
Senior Constable 1C Mitch Hellams Mount Barker Police Station Station security at Mt Barker police station isn’t adequate. Members at a desk in the front station can’t see the front entrance. The BA room is right next to the equipment-issue counter which can be a problem with PCA and OFA procedures being conducted at shift change. Entry and exit pedestrian gates don’t auto-close as they should and need to be manually checked to ensure they are secure. A significant issue is there are no stocks of streamer OC spray to issue to station members. There are no barriers of any sort to the front counter and we’ve had a recent incident of someone jumping the counter here. In the current security climate, it’s important to address these sorts of issues. I don’t think we can afford to be complacent with security.
Constable Gabriella Capponi
Senior Constable Scott Prime
Grenfell St Patrols
Eastern Adelaide LSA
Although there are many measures in place regarding security at police stations, I think complacency among members could place them at risk. Further, having one member only in most major police stations between roughly 3pm and 7am does not provide adequate security to either the member and potential victims or other people who might attend to report various matters. If having one member working in stations in most afternoon shifts is going to be common practice, it’s imperative to have some form of safety screen in between station staff and members of the public, especially with the risk to police in the current climate.
AUGUST 2016 POLICE JOURNAL
25
Not even close! All stations should be secure, including their car parks with room for members’ private vehicles. Grenfell and Hindley St, Salisbury, Holden Hill and Port Adelaide all have completely insecure open-access fleet parking. Fleets have had tyres slashed and members’ private vehicles have been damaged. CCTV needs to be upgraded as a deterrent and to assist with investigations into incidents on police premises. Front service areas need to be secure enough – using Perspex security screens or wire rope – to prevent a person entering without a pass. This can be done with minimal disruption to customer contact. Until all stations are made secure, a minimum of two operational members should be present at all times. Instead of reactive we need to be preventative and, with both training and station security, get ahead of the current threat.