AFP Association shows it hand on drug testing.

The Canberra Times article is a more expansive of what Mr Torr is presenting.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/federal-cops-face-offduty-drug-tests/2048281.aspx

“Mr Torr said the public needed to feel confident police were not under the influence of illicit drugs or potential targets for blackmail or corruption because of a substance addiction.

”I don’t see why there’s not an equal argument for federal politicians, for the judiciary, for surgeons, for the very identical reasons,” he said.”

He buys into drug propaganda as fact. Its a naive view that shows little understanding of drugs or people. Its an all in one solution. If you take any of the illicit drugs then you are a corrupt, immoral, compromised individual who should be stripped of their work and publicly ridiculed. All on the bases of a chemical test. I know junkies with more integrity than Mr Torr.

He does shine some light on the high level of discrimination police show towards anyone that might look like or identify as a drug user.

So we are all clear on Mr Torr “But I’m not here to judge people with an illicit drug problem, it’s just that they shouldn’t be here. ”

So now we are all clear on how AFP members view illicit drugs and drug users as represented by their Association. Its a moral high ground to kill for.

Captain RAAF said :

Umm, the ADF regularly drug tests it’s people at random. Even if there was such a thing as consultation in the ADF, it would still have been implemented. Yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir!

…and in the case of the ADF, there is no concern about the whole “paid overtime for the call in while off duty for a test” since the ADF don’t get any sort of overtime and are at work as soon as they are told they are.

jtak said :

No other public service area would accept this..

Umm, the ADF regularly drug tests it’s people at random. Even if there was such a thing as consultation in the ADF, it would still have been implemented. Yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir!

If it’s good enough for Australia’s finest, it’s good enough for the plodstabulary!

Its good we get to ask questions and be educated. So the AFPA are just seeking an overtime payment to cover the time taken to comply with legislation and agreements that already exist. That seems fair enough. It also gets around the issue of, on duty and off duty, if your being paid, your at work. But thats not what the media release presents.

MR Torr said “The Australian Federal Police Association has put forward a proposal that would see officers subjected to random drug tests while off duty, as well as while they are at work.”

How embarrassing, he is proposing something that is already in place. Why………………….Just to be seen, to be representing its members.

Storm in an ill-advised tea cup or part of a wider political/commercial campaign.

jtak said :

No other public service area would accept this. Unfortunately if you stand up and say ‘we will not accept this’ you then face the risk of being looked at with ‘what are you trying to hide?’

Doesnt this sound like *EXACTLY* the response when the police pushed to implement roadside drug testing? People complained about being drug-tested and raised these same issues and the police/govt said basically ‘what are you trying to hide, you druggos’. Maybe no other public service area would accept it, but in private industry its accepted practice in some areas where safety and accountability are important. To be fair, most public servants wouldnt accept less than a 2hr lunch, and at least one public holiday per month (and theyd better all be a long weekend).

jtak said :

If people are so concerned about those paid out of the public purse using drugs, why not begin with the areas which suffer a higher rate of drug abuse? I applaud our Defence members, but there are many of those who dabble.

I dont think it has so much to do with being paid from the public purse, as the fact theyre trying to force laws/rules upon the community, but baulking when its suggested they comply with the same rules. As far as I know, the defence department and its members (who may or may not dabble) are not trying to force drug testing upon the community, while the AFP are. If the defence force was trying to force the community to meet some standard, then the public would be within their rights to expect the same from those enforcing the rules. In the same way, if the lower soldiers were forced to be drug tested, they should expect those doing the testing and higher in command, to also be tested. Is that not fair? Is it not fair to expect those officers administering drug/alcohol tests to be tested to be clean themselves?

It really is embarassing for some people when they don’t understand the conditions at which ‘they’ or others are employed. The legislation for the AFP to test its members off duty has existed for years. Don’t believe me, read the AFP Act in conjunction with the current Certified Agreement. Storm in an ill-advised teacup

Ok fgzk, I can see where you are coming from. I can only assume that they wish to help foster better public perception and confidence that their officers are exactly what they expect to be I suppose. Thats the whole idea of transparency and accountability.

The AFPA should hang their head in shame, and retract such outrageous support for the infringement of rights. No other public service area would accept this. Unfortunately if you stand up and say ‘we will not accept this’ you then face the risk of being looked at with ‘what are you trying to hide?’

They have not liaised with their members on this, and that their statement that they have the police members support on this is an outright lie. I am absolutely disgusted.

Where will the big brother state end?

If people are so concerned about those paid out of the public purse using drugs, why not begin with the areas which suffer a higher rate of drug abuse? I applaud our Defence members, but there are many of those who dabble.

What about any other public service employee who has a security clearance? Surely recreational drug use is a black mark against your integrity also?

Bad idea.

Spideydog ” fgzk, is everything to do with Police a conspiracy?”

No I don’t subscribe to conspiracy theories. I do believe in, politicising issues, lobby groups, media campaigns, enterprise bargaining and greed. They seem to bind in a loose coalition for mutual interest.

I actual think this is a one sided issue. The AFP have nothing to hide and already carry out a comprehensive policy on drug use. Ive seen no evidence that the community is concerned or distrusts the stand that police take on drug use. Even the media release states that they believe they do not have a “problem”. No crime has been committed. Yet AFPA wants off duty drug testing.

AFP officers are also members of our community and such deserve the same protections and expectations that we all share. Unless you are at work, driving on the road or have a court order, you do not have to prove your drug free status to anyone (this may have changed). What they do in the privacy of their home is their business. What they do at work is police business.

Something like this does have a high “bite on ass factor”. You would want to be sure of your drug use facts first.

Do cops currently have a compulsory alcohol testing at the start of shifts?

In most mining operations, there is breatholizer testing of 100% of staff every shift. While police might not have the same problems the mining industry had in the bad old days, considering the fact that they already have the equipment and training to use it, such a regime would be pretty easy to institute.