Sheriff’s Officers – Direction transport and storage of appointments – March 2018 (PDF version)

The bulletin Joint Consultative Committee, Thursday, 8 March 2018 briefly covered Transport and storage of appointments. That bulletin can be found HERE.

The PSA is directing members not to take any appointments home. Instead store them safely and securely at the last courthouse they were rostered on duty, even if that court house has no approved storage facility, for example a large safe. That direction continues until the matter is fully resolved. Then Sheriff’s Officers can transport and store their appointments safely and securely at home without breaching the Weapons Prohibition Regulation 2017.

The Sheriff advised us Sheriff’s Officers have been taking their appointments home for over
16 years and was no issue. However, after we raised potential breaches of Schedule 1 of the Weapons Prohibition Regulation 2017 in relation to transporting appointments home after finishing a roster the Sheriff’s opinion changed. Sheriff’s Officers are responsible for transporting appointments home on their own volition. That is because for Sheriff’s Officers to be exempt from having a permit for their appointments the appointments must be used ‘in the course of employment’ and be ‘safely and securely stored’ when not in use.

The issue is the regulation does not define ‘in the course of employment’. That may not occur when transporting appointments to be stored at home to be used at a different court the next day. A breach of that permit requirement can incur a maximum penalty of $11,000 for extendable batons and handcuffs, and capsicum spray. When the ballistic vests are finally supplied, a further $5,500 maximum penalty can apply.

At the Joint Consultative Committee meeting in December 2017 the Sheriff advised they can have appointments available at hub courts. But they require a list of hub courts and number of required appointments. The Sheriff considers that the PSA/SOVBAG should provide that information. We contend it is the Sheriff’s responsibility to audit courthouses for the number of required appointments.

However, to expedite the process we agreed to survey members who currently transport their appointments to hub courts and may transport them home to be safely secured, or to their satellite court. The survey can be completed below. The PSA direction should also assist in the audit of appointments and secure storage facilities at court houses.

Survey – Sheriff’s Officers

The link found HERE is a survey for Sheriff’s Officers to respond to four questions with Yes or No and a short comment. We would like your response by Friday 6 April 2018.

Further updates

Your union will continue to update members on matters affecting Sheriff’s Officers by visiting workplaces.

If you would like to arrange a meeting at your workplace please email Bart McKenzie

As always the PSA welcomes member’s feedback. Should you have any questions or comments please contact your delegate firstly and if required the PSA.

Your PSA/SOVBAG Delegates are:

Eddie Lia – Campbelltown Court

Daniel De La Paz – Penrith Court

Stephen Hancock – Burwood Court

Tony Morawsky – Mt Druitt

Andrew Pierce – Parramatta

Glen Elliot-Rudder – Wagga Wagga

Jason Woollett – Liverpool Court

Your PSA staff:

Andrew Boulton – PSA Industrial Officer

Bart McKenzie – PSA Senior Organiser

What can you do?

• Give a copy of this bulletin to your colleagues.
• Print this bulletin and put it up on your notice board.
• Ask a colleague to join the PSA.
• Get involved as your Area Contact
• Not a member join online – https://membership.psa.asn.au/register
• Members can update their details at – https://psa.asn.au/update-your-details/