NSW MP David Shoebridge has called for a Parliamentary inquiry to review the treatment of psychologically injured police officers. The Greens police spokesman said there was a ‘‘clear need’’ for a fully resourced and multi-party inquiry to scrutinise the treatment of injured police and reform legal, medical and internal policing arrangements. The inquiry should have the power to receive submissions, compel evidence and hold public hearings to ensure the reform process receives committed cross-party support, Mr Shoebridge said. His call comes in response to a December 2014 Parliamentary Forum which heard from injured police and their families as well as medical and legal professionals. On Wednesday Mr Shoebridge released his 11 recommendations which he says form a roadmap to practical reforms to deal with psychological injuries in the NSW Police Force. ‘‘The very nature of policing, which involves the routine exposure of officers to the fact or threat of violent injury to themselves and others, means that one of the most common injuries suffered by police is Post Traumatic Stress Injury,’’ Mr Shoebridge said. ‘‘This is a reality that is often ignored by the Police Force and the insurers and agencies responsible for dealing with injured police,’’ he said. ‘‘These recommendations are intended to cover essential reforms to the legal, medical and internal policing arrangements in NSW identified to date.’’ The Forgotten 300, a support group for ex-police hurt on duty and their families, welcomed the call for an inquiry. ‘‘We have been seeking a parliamentary inquiry at the very least for the past three years,’’ administrator Berrick Boland told the Mercury. ‘‘A royal commission is what is needed, the injured police and their remaining family victims of police suicide want the public to know exactly the way they are disgracefully treated by their own police force and the NSW Government,’’ he said. ‘‘People are continually dying as we speak,’’ he said. Mr Shoebridge said systemic changes must be made to police culture to ensure psychologically injured police are fully supported when they seek assistance. ‘‘Many injured police recount how the police culture discouraged them from even considering if they, or their colleagues, suffered from a psychological injury,’’ he said. ‘‘Too often the reported response to an officer voicing their concerns was for them to ‘get back on the bike’ or ‘if you can’t take the pressure maybe you’re not cut out to be in the police’.’’ Mr Shoebridge said such attitudes are not universal, ‘’but they are pervasive in the NSW Police’’. He said addressing this culture was not simple, but implementing the recommendations would be an essential step forward.
NSW MP David Shoebridge has called for a Parliamentary inquiry to review the treatment of psychologically injured police officers.
The Greens police spokesman said there was a ‘‘clear need’’ for a fully resourced and multi-party inquiry to scrutinise the treatment of injured police and reform legal, medical and internal policing arrangements.
The inquiry should have the power to receive submissions, compel evidence and hold public hearings to ensure the reform process receives committed cross-party support, Mr Shoebridge said.
His call comes in response to a December 2014 Parliamentary Forum which heard from injured police and their families as well as medical and legal professionals.
On Wednesday Mr Shoebridge released his 11 recommendations which he says form a roadmap to practical reforms to deal with psychological injuries in the NSW Police Force.
‘‘The very nature of policing, which involves the routine exposure of officers to the fact or threat of violent injury to themselves and others, means that one of the most common injuries suffered by police is Post Traumatic Stress Injury,’’ Mr Shoebridge said.
‘‘This is a reality that is often ignored by the Police Force and the insurers and agencies responsible for dealing with injured police,’’ he said.
‘‘These recommendations are intended to cover essential reforms to the legal, medical and internal policing arrangements in NSW identified to date.’’
The Forgotten 300, a support group for ex-police hurt on duty and their families, welcomed the call for an inquiry.
‘‘We have been seeking a parliamentary inquiry at the very least for the past three years,’’ administrator Berrick Boland told the Mercury.
‘‘A royal commission is what is needed, the injured police and their remaining family victims of police suicide want the public to know exactly the way they are disgracefully treated by their own police force and the NSW Government,’’ he said.
‘‘People are continually dying as we speak,’’ he said.
Mr Shoebridge said systemic changes must be made to police culture to ensure psychologically injured police are fully supported when they seek assistance.
‘‘Many injured police recount how the police culture discouraged them from even considering if they, or their colleagues, suffered from a psychological injury,’’ he said.
‘‘Too often the reported response to an officer voicing their concerns was for them to ‘get back on the bike’ or ‘if you can’t take the pressure maybe you’re not cut out to be in the police’.’’
Mr Shoebridge said such attitudes are not universal, ‘’but they are pervasive in the NSW Police’’.
He said addressing this culture was not simple, but implementing the recommendations would be an essential step forward.
