QLD:Civilians to man speed cameras

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2010
QLD:Civilians to man speed cameras

BRISBANE, Aug 13 AAP - Queensland police will leave speed camera vans to civilian operators
and go back to pounding the beat under a new state government proposal.

The plan for private operators to take over the cameras comes as the government and
police union wrangle over a three-year pay deal.

Police union leaders will meet with Premier Anna Bligh in Brisbane on Friday afternoon.

The government has offered a 2.5 per cent pay increase over three years, but the police
union has rejected the offer and mounted a television advertising campaign demanding more.

Police Minister Neil Roberts said the speed camera change would free up 100,000 hours
per year of police time.

"Currently, all of the mobile speed camera operations are done on overtime - they're
generally not done in normal office hours, so it's on overtime rates," Mr Roberts said.

"Being able to employ civilians would be a significant cost saving."

The police union is opposed to the idea.

"Once you give it to a private business, it's nothing more than about making a profit,"

said police union president Ian Leavers.

Mr Leavers said the move would not release more police onto the beat.

AAP stg/pjo/jl

KEYWORD: POLICE QLD

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