a different drum

I want to go back to something I mentioned on 3AW on Friday and I have been toying with it over the weekend. It concerns the lack of police liaison support for victims of crime and the fact that they have 12 gay and lesbian liaison officers. What do they do?

As a side issue I mentioned that Victoria Police has a brass band, a pipe band, a marching band and a dance band. Why?  This is meant to be a Police force not a bunch of entertainers. Do these entertainers do any Police work at all ?  And what do they do every day at taxpayers’ expense?

Coincidentally I received an e-mail from an insider over the weekend and he said:

Mr Hinch,
Please keep the lack of support for victims of crime issue alive. I was surprised to hear that you were not aware
of the large number of musicians the Victorian police employs. Police musicians do no police training and are therefore not
capable of doing police work.

They are supplied with the best equipment that money can buy. They have a support staff to organise their needs. There is even a librarian to put music in their folders. The contribution these bands make to our society is very questionable.

I think the tax payers would be appalled if they knew what the police bands cost.
Keep up the good work. Don't mention my name regarding this issue.

This is bizarre. Why does the Police Force need bands – except for after hours recreational hobby time? Howe much do they cost? What Police work do members of Police bands ever actually do?

We’ll try to get some answers. They are obviously marching to a different drum.

Monday, October 25, 2005

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2005