Finding a fix

Solving youth crime requires rank and file police to be united with management

The disconnect between frontline police on the Gold Coast and the upper ranks has been clear for some time but it is now reaching a difficult position. The latest turmoil began earlier this month when Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway was stood down and an investigation launched into claims he authorised officers to ram a stolen car driven by an armed offender at Mermaid Waters on February 1.

Now, Assistant Commissioner Kevin Guteridge has arranged a meeting between the Coast’s top police brass on Monday morning in response to growing unrest among frontline officers.

Officers sympathetic to Sgt Ottoway began the #Free Otters campaign and called for Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll to be sacked.

Queensland’s top cop is also under fire for the growing level of youth crime gripping the state.

A senior Coast officer told the Bulletin: “Not a single one of us feel safe to do our job anymore. Last week was the turning point. They have to do something,” they said.

“The bosses have to find some way to try and restore the faith in their leadership.”

Ultimately this disconnect must be solved.

If these two sides of the service remain at odds, our police will not be able to be as effective as they should, and indeed, must be.

As it says in scripture, a house divided against itself cannot stand.

And it is good to see some urgency with today’s talks and a willingness from HQ to address the growing unrest.

There is little value in simply pretending the problem does not exist and hoping it will just fix itself. The commissioner needs strong feedback from leading officers on the ground in order to better understand the issues and come up with a workable solution.

Solving the serious and ongoing issue of youth crime on the Gold Coast requires the full effort of our police and this will not be possible unless the rankand-file can come to some accord with bosses.

A solution to defuse this issue is possible but it requires an honest conversation from all sides and for issues to be addressed properly.