Damsell in Distress !

You would think it would be one of those news stories that would make the Police Commissioner glow with pride.  Two police patrolling in a squad car came across a distressed woman trying to change a flat tyre - and stopped to help.  Unfortunately the jack she was using failed to lift the car and one officer drove back to the police station to get better equipment.   They fixed the problem and sent her on her way, and she was so grateful that she wrote a letter of thanks to the police.

That's where this "Damsell in distress " story went sour.   The two officers were carpetted and reprimanded, and unfortunately in this day and age ugly reality has intruded to force the men and women in blue uniforms to work to a new moral code.

It was pointed out to those two police that they formed part of a " first response " unit and in the event of a terror incident in the city it was expected that they would be immediately available. They also breached a necessary requirement that they patrol in pairs - for safety reasons.

Policing always had an element of danger but today outfits like Islamic State specifically target first responders, as was illustrated with the killing of a civilian police employee by a radicalized young man.  The uniforms police wear - as with those of Army personnel - are like wearing a prominent target on their backs.

Reactionary forces are using social media to recruit a "fifth column " civilian army to spread terror in western cities.  This resulted in the Lindt cafe siege and the death of innocents.  Even the most mundane police call out needs to be treated with caution.  Our police are always armed and we insist that they patrol in pairs for mutual safety.

Unfortunately this introduces a para military element to policing.  The standard issue Glock pistol is no longer adequate firepower and there are calls for automatic shotguns and assault rifles to be carried in police vehicles.   Just as Australian soldiers in combat areas wear body armour, the police don similar protection in armed confrontations.

It is perhaps a sign of the times that the police uniforms are about to be supplemented with the roll out of a new light armoured vest which officers will be encouraged to wear at all times. It is not as obtrusive as heavy body armour but it will deliver protection against small calibre handgun fire - and particularly against knife attacks.  It is intended that it be worn under the uniform, close to the body - and would not be apparent to the public.  Fourteen thousand have been ordered.

It seems inevitable that changing circumstances are drawing a line under the old relationship between police and the public - as this spontaneous help in fixing a flat tyre indicates.   The police are being told that they must disassociate from actions that intrude on their police function and leave such matters to organizations such as the NRMA.

Sadly, this is producing a widening breach between the police and the public.  Even a call out to a "domestic "is likely to see the police arrive in a "Bearcat " armoured truck with a machine gun on top  if there is even suspicion that a weapon is involved.

Such is the way of policing in this twenty-first century !