Police - and the risk factor !

There is no doubt that working in the Police force is a risky job !    Officers are expected to wade in and break up fights - pull people out of car wrecks - and intervene in situations where the risk factor puts their lives on the line.   It is inevitable that they will suffer injuries at a far greater rate than the general public.

Unfortunately the level of compensation costs has risen to unsustainable levels and the state government is proposing harsh cut backs - and that could lead to what is almost unthinkable to most people - a police strike !

The police are already talking of limiting the police response to " life threatening " situations only. In the past, they have issued warnings instead of fines to impede the money flow to Treasury - but this state has never had a police strike where officers have completely walked off the job and left the citizens unprotected.

The government is saying it wants to reform compensation to provide incentives for injured officers to return to duty.  The unspoken implications seem to be pointing at the difference between physical injuries - and what is referred to as " Post traumatic stress disorder " - which is hard to fully define - and which can last indefinitely.

We can not expect police to suffer extraordinary risk in carrying out their duties of protecting us - and not provide a safety net to cover injuries.   It has been suggested that retirement for a 44 year old senior constable with a permanent disability would fall from $ 760,000 to a mere $ 147,000 lump sum - and that is certainly not enough to cover whole of life costs.

It sounds suspiciously like this " argy bargy " confrontation is really about a tactical battle.  Both sides stake out a starting point that is far removed from reality - with the hope that the final outcome will end up somewhere in the middle.   Grudgingly accepted by both sides.

It is probably true that each year the level of police compensation keeps rising and is - or will - reach an unsustainable level, but the money needed to keep an injured officer at an acceptable living standard can not be reduced to poverty level.

The main danger is the ever rising level of rhetoric.    If this inflames passions to the extent that reason flies out the window then the ultimate disaster is possible - a police strike.

A time for cool heads - and less inflammatory language !