Top cops babysit baton Senior officers to travel world on Games junket

custodian officers” for the 288day Queen’s Baton Relay.

Taxpayers will foot the bill for the trips to the Caribbean, Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Oceania as part of the $2 billion Games budget.

Stopovers will include the Seychelles, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, England, Scotland, Northern Island, Isle of Man, Wales, Falkland Islands, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Norfolk Island.

The QPS says it will fund wages and IT requirements for the trips while the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) will pick up the rest of the bill.

Despite documents stating it is a State Government statutory authority, with its budget approved by Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones, the corporation is refusing to say how much the 288-day trip will cost taxpayers.

There will be seven trips and each officer will be accompanied by a Commonwealth Games Federation representative, along with a media officer, photographer and team liaison person.

A QPS spokesman defended the move and said Victoria Police travelled overseas when Melbourne held the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

“In addition to providing protection for the baton the officers will provide general safety and security advice to the GOLDOC QBR team and also maintain liaison with local law enforcement agencies who provide security for the Baton Relay,” a spokesman said.

A GOLDOC spokeswoman said it requested the QPS support. “The use of members of the police force is common practice for the Olympic Torch and Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay events,” a spokeswoman said.

“There is a significant need to interact with local police and security forces in visited regions which can only be undertaken by accredited government policing representatives.”

The baton is scheduled to arrive in Australia on December 24.