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The Queensland Police Service is the law enforcement agency responsible for policing the Australian state of Queensland. In 1990, the Queensland Police Force was officially renamed the Queensland Police Service and the old motto of "Firmness with Courtesy" was changed to "With Honour We Serve". The headquarters of the Queensland Police Service is located at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

History

Queensland as a state, did not exist until 6 June 1859. The area now called Queensland was known as North Eastern New South Wales. The colony would have been under the jurisdiction of the New South Wales Police force up until the state established its own police force.

The Queensland Police was established on 1 January 1864 and started operations with approximately 143 employees, including the first Commissioner of Police D.T. Seymour. The service had four divisions: Metropolitan Police, Rural Police, Water Police, and Native Police. Bicycles were introduced in 1895. At the turn of the century there were 845 men and 135 Aboriginal trackers at 256 stations in Queensland.

1900s

In 1904 the Queensland Police started to use fingerprinting in investigations. In 1912 Brisbane general strike the Queensland Police were used to suppress striking workers. The first women police officers were inducted in 1931 to assist in inquiries involving women suspects and prisoners. Following World War II a number of technological innovations were adopted including radio for communication within Queensland and between State Departments. By 1950 the Service was staffed by 2,030 sworn personnel, 10 women police and 30 trackers.

1960s

In 1965 women officers were given the same powers as male officers.

1970s

The Queensland Police Academy complex at Oxley, Brisbane, was completed in 1972. Bicycles were phased out in 1975 and the Police put more cars and motorcycles into service, the Police Air Wing also became operational in 1975 following the purchase of two single-engine aircraft. In 1980, a new computerised message switching system was put into use throughout the State, giving Queensland one of the most effective police communication systems in Australia.

1980s

The 1980s were a turbulent period in Queensland's political history, allegations of high-level corruption in the Queensland Police and State government led to a judicial inquiry presided by Tony Fitzgerald. The Fitzgerald Inquiry which ran from July 1987 to July 1989 led to charges being laid against many long serving police including, Jack Herbert, Licensing Branch sergeant Harry Burgess, assistant commissioner Graeme Parker, the Police Commissioner Terry Lewis (who was gaoled and served ten and a half years) and a perjury trial against the State Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

1990s

The Police Powers and Responsibility Act 1997, was passed by the Queensland government on 1 July 1997.

Technological introductions in the 1990s include Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray, the Glock semi-automatic pistol, extendable batons and hinged handcuffs in 1998,and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) laser-based detection devices and an Integrated Traffic Camera System in 1999 to enforce traffic speed limits.

2000s

The Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 came into force in July 2000, consolidating the majority of police powers into one Act. The Queensland Police contribute to the national CrimTrac system and the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), established in 2000. The Crime and Misconduct Act 2001 commenced 1 January 2002 and redefined the responsibilities of the service and the Crime and Misconduct Commission with respect to the management of complaints.

In 2006, some officers received a TASER stun gun.

In mid-2007, approximately 5,000 officers participated in the Pride in Policing march through Brisbane, Queensland's capital.

The 2000s were a decade of continued growth for the Queensland Police Service, whilst the percentage of female officers also increased. In 2002 there were 8,367 sworn staff (20.2% women) and 2,925 staff members at 321 Police Stations, 40 Police Beat shopfronts and 21 Neighbourhood Police Beats throughout the state. By 2004 the service grown to 9,003 sworn personnel (21.8% women) and 2,994 other staff members. As at 30 June 2008 there were 10,237 sworn personnel (25% women) and 2,929 other staff.

Criticisms

The CMC investigated a Chief Superintendent of the Queensland Police Service after an he tasered a teenage girl at South Bank in 2008. A magistrate later ruled the officers did not give adequate directions and threw out a charge of obstructing police against the girl. From reports of video footage, the 16 year old girl kicked and spat on the Chief Superintendent resulting in a security guard holding her down and being tasered for 1.5 secounds. The CMC has made a attempt to re-investigate this issues but no charges will be held against the police officers. The Queensland Police Service has also been accused of institutional racism after its fierce support of Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley, who stood trial for the assault and manslaughter of Mulrunji Doomadgee. Doomadgee died of massive internal injuries after being arrested by Hurley for disturbing the peace on Palm Island in 2004.

Regions

There are eight police regions in the State of Queensland, each under command of an Assistant Commissioner:

• Far Northern Region
• Northern Region
• Central Region
• North Coast Region
• Metropolitan North Region
• Metropolitan South Region
• Southern Region
• South Eastern Region

These regions are further divided into districts or divisions.

Ranks

Ranks of the Queensland Police Service are as follows:

Non-Commissioned Ranks

• Recruit (light blue epaulette with embroidered 'RECRUIT')
• Constable (plain blue epaulette)
• Constable First Class (one embroidered chevron - no longer issued but still in use)
• Senior Constable (two embroidered chevrons)

Senior Non Commissioned Ranks

• Sergeant (three embroidered chevrons)
• Senior Sergeant (embroidered crown with laurels)

Commissioned Ranks

• Inspector (three pips)
• Superintendent (one crown and one pip)
• Chief Superintendent (one crown and two pips)

• Assistant Commissioner (crossed tipstaves with laurels)
• Deputy Commissioner (one pip and crossed tipstaves with laurels)
• Commissioner (one crown and crossed tipstaves with laurels)

Constable	Constable (1st Class)	Senior Constable	Sergeant	Senior Sergeant	Inspector	Superintendent	Chief Superintendent	Assistant Commissioner	Deputy Commissioner	Commissioner

Rank insignia is worn only by uniformed officers. Officers at the rank of Inspector and above (commissioned officers) have the words 'Queensland Police' embroidered on their epaulettes, which are significantly larger than the epaulettes of lower ranks. Different paypoints apply within the same rank relative to years of service.

Specialist areas

Officers must serve a minimum of three to five years in general duties before being permitted to serve in specialist areas such as:

• Child Protection and Investigation Unit (CPIU)
• Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB)
• Dog Squad
• Forensic Crash Unit
• Forensic Services Branch
• Mounted
• Prosecutions
• Railway Squad
• Scenes of Crime
• Special Emergency Response Team (SERT)
• Stock Squad
• Tactical Crime Squad (TCS)
• Traffic Branch
• Water Police

Commissioners

Equipment

Typical equipment worn on duty belt by a General Duty police officer (QLD)

• Glock pistol model 22 (.40S&W), two spare magazines plus ammunition, maglite, maglite belt loop, ASP extendable baton (21 inches), rigid long baton, baton pouch (asp) baton belt loop (rigid), medic glove pouch, light weight medic gloves, heavy duty needle stick gloves, Hinged handcuffs (Saf-Lock Mk5), mobile phone pouch, mobile phone, radio pouch, radio (Motorola), covert earpiece, taser pouch, taser (x26), spare air cartage (x26), OC spray, OC pouch, digital voice recorder, digital voice recorder pouch, key loop.

References

1. "Documenting Democracy". Letters Patent erecting Colony of Queensland 6 June 1859 (UK). National Archives of Australia. 1859. Retrieved 2009-02-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
2. http://theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21714244-28737,00.html?from=public_rss.
3. "QPS 2007-2008 Annual Report" (PDf). Queensland Police Service. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2009-02-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

• Queensland Police Service

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