Mr MALEY - 2003-06-18
This is a general question and you should be able to answer it. Do you think it is appropriate for any member of the public to demand that more senior police officers should investigate an alleged offence involving a member of their family on the basis that the officer conducting the investigation was considered too junior?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will go to the language and the imputation that the member put on the question in regard to a demand from a member of the public that a more senior police officer should conduct an investigation. At the end of the day, the police make a decision. As a criminal lawyer who has had a lot of experience standing up in court defending his clients against charges brought to the court by the police, the member for Goyder knows about police operational duties and how police work. He has certainly spent many hours in the court over the years trying to get police charges knocked out of court. That was his previous job.
However, there is no capacity for members of the public to demand anything in relation to police. Of course, members of the public, in trying to comply with a request to facilitate an appropriate outcome, can make a request to the police about all sorts of things. They are part of our community; they have a job to do. But there is no capacity for a member of the public to make a demand.
The imputation that my colleague somehow demanded the police take such action, I have been advised, is absolute rubbish.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will go to the language and the imputation that the member put on the question in regard to a demand from a member of the public that a more senior police officer should conduct an investigation. At the end of the day, the police make a decision. As a criminal lawyer who has had a lot of experience standing up in court defending his clients against charges brought to the court by the police, the member for Goyder knows about police operational duties and how police work. He has certainly spent many hours in the court over the years trying to get police charges knocked out of court. That was his previous job.
However, there is no capacity for members of the public to demand anything in relation to police. Of course, members of the public, in trying to comply with a request to facilitate an appropriate outcome, can make a request to the police about all sorts of things. They are part of our community; they have a job to do. But there is no capacity for a member of the public to make a demand.
The imputation that my colleague somehow demanded the police take such action, I have been advised, is absolute rubbish.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016