PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING

If you want proof beyond doubt that the Palaszczuk Government is a weak and ineffective government, consider the following:

Since early March when juveniles driving stolen cars repeatedly chased and rammed two police cars, senior police, on at least three occasions, have ordered all police cars to immediately return to their stations when juveniles in stolen cars are driving dangerously and are believed to be looking for police cars to ram.

Ordering police to vacate the streets of Townsville to avoid direct confrontation with juveniles driving stolen cars reeks of politics. It is certainly not about protecting the people of Townsville or confronting juvenile criminals.

The values of the Queensland Police Service are: Courage: by always doing the right thing. Pride: in themselves, the QPS, the work they do and the community they serve.

I feel for the Townsville police.

They live their values every day; they put their lives on the line as part of their service. Courage and Service is their mantra.

To be ordered to leave the streets to the juvenile criminals, to leave the people of Townsville unprotected, is beyond comprehension.

Why would these orders be given by Senior Police? When the police cars were rammed in early March, there was red hot outrage from the public and rightfully so.

No doubt the Premier and her league of advisers considered that this damaged the Premier’s image and popularity.

The simple solution to protect the Premier’s image and popularity was to ensure that such confrontations with juveniles in stolen cars did not happen again.

Ordering police cars back to base goes unnoticed so the Premier’s image and popularity are protected.

This is not the fault of our frontline police. This is self-serving political interference via the police chain of command.

These politically motivated decisions will result in lives being lost. When the Police are ordered to withdraw to their stations, will the juveniles stop driving dangerously? NO. Will they target us? YES.

Front-line Police must have the authority and the protection of the Law to deal with the situation.

Police must be empowered to take defensive action, to use lethal force in need to protect themselves and the public.

Are the police expected to allow criminals to ram their vehicles, drive dangerously and threaten the lives of other road users, and not react?

We, the people, must demand this. We must get rid of such a weak and uncaring government whose priority and only consideration is selfpreservation, political advantage and popularity. It must not be re-elected. BARRY LOWE,

Kirwan