AIPM News

Archived news items July - December 2004:

93rd Police Management Development Program
National Policing Priority Workshop

1 October 2004

93rd Police Management Development Program
by Rebecca Hughes

The 93rd Police Management Development Program (93rd PMDP) was noteworthy for its composition. With women outnumbering men 18 to 11, it was the first time that there has been such a strong female representation. As well as Australian police officers, those from New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, China and Vanuatu joined in the course with a member of the New South Wales Corrective Services.

For the participants the residential component of the course has now concluded and it’s time for them to celebrate their having successfully navigated the many topics that have been discussed and the assignments set for them. Without a doubt all of the people involved in the residential gained not only exposure to diverse ways of thinking about management and leadership challenges, but have also had their personal boundaries challenged and stretched. On a number of occasions the words ‘network’ and ‘new friends’ were used by participants to describe the relationships that have been forged. This opportunity to interact with others from similar public service backgrounds will act to the benefit of public sector management and leadership throughout the region. Despite the heavy workload, the morale and motivation of the participants to meet the challenges held out to them did not suffer.

The graduating class with AIPM staff

The final assessable task saw each of the five syndicates presenting a “Reflections Session” consisting of a group activity on an aspect of the Program that touched-off a thought process. Other tasks that were accomplished included a Futures Paper looking 10 to 15 years forward from 2004. This task was particularly demanding as it required reasoned imagination and the prediction of what might occur within law enforcement organisations and how the challenges of the future could be met. Added to the assessable activities that were undertaken was a debate session which saw questions being posed to groups who were required to speak either in the positive or negative. To prepare for this activity, the groups met and discussed their approach to the posed topic, researched it and then prepared for a full afternoon of debating. On the whole, the outcomes from the debates were a close call with the assessors reaching a unanimous decision on only one of the five topics.

The course participants also made presentations in relation to information technology issues and the reasons for the failure of some projects. This experience was illuminative as it showed the difference between project management in a general sense and that relating specifically to technology.

Michelle Henderson receives
her certificate from
Senator Vanstone

Sessions covered this week included: an address by the Western Australia Police Commissioner, Karl O’Callaghan on the first 30 days of his commissionership; diversity and contemporary leadership challenges forums; a presentation on Strategy and Decision by Visiting Fellow, Lieutenant-Colonel Warwick Jones; and a case study relating to the Australian Capital Territory bush fires.

After being presented with their certificates, the participants enjoyed a formal dinner and closing speech made by Senator Amanda Vanstone, a fitting end to a course populated by so many women. This was followed by an evening celebration before course members returned to their workplaces across the Globe taking with them the additional skills and techniques learned during the residential. The AIPM is confident that a positive contribution has been made to the represented police and other services and wishes all participants well for the future.

Any questions regarding the Program may be directed to Mr. Thomas Rogers, the Director Professional Development (02 9934 4737).

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15 September 2004

National Policing Priority Workshop
by Hadyn Green

Following a highly successful workshop held at the Institute in 2003 the Board of Control expressed its desire that further workshops be held. In December 2003 work was commenced on determining an appropriate topic for a National Policing Priority Workshop in 2004. This resulted in Board members approving the conduct of a Workshop titled “Counter-Terrorism – Harnessing the Private Sector”.

Delegates being addressed by
Mr Aldo Borgu from the
Australian Strategic Policy Institute

Following the approval work was commenced on the construction of the Workshop, with a researched ‘foundation paper’ being prepared, presenters and participants identified and professional reporting capacity secured. The Workshop was held at the AIPM between 31st August and 3rd September 2004.

All Australasian policing jurisdictions were represented at the Workshop and made valuable contributions to its outcome. In addition, represented was New Zealand’s Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, South Australia’s Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Australian Customs Service. In all there were 20 nominated participants.

A number of government departments, private sector organisations and individuals provided speakers for the workshop, these included.

• Australian Strategic Policy Institute
• Australian Security Industry Society International, NSW Chapter
• Tempo Group (Group 4 Security)
• Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
• New South Wales Police Force
• Australasian Police Multicultural Advisory Bureau
• Westfield
• Lebanese Muslim Association
• Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department
• British High Commission – New Scotland Yard
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Mr Charles Connolly (former head of the Yonkers Police Department, USA)
• Mr David Gries (senior security consultant)
  

One of the several panel discussions held during the workshop
(Left to right: Charles Connolly, David Gries,
John George, Ed Hardy, Warwick Jones)

In addition to hearing from the speakers, who operated both individually and in panel discussions, participants examined issues in smaller workshop groups. The issues discussed were –

1. The need to engage the private sector -

• how to engage the private sector
• what partnership arrangements should be made
• methodology for partnership arrangements
• accomplishing partnership arrangements – strategic aspects
• accomplishing partnership arrangements – operational aspects
• the establishment of mutual trust

2. The sharing of intelligence –

• ASIO/police sharing
• Commonwealth/State/Territory sharing
• intelligence sharing within States and Territories
• intelligence sharing between the government and private sectors

3. Target hardening -

• Australian arrangements and opportunities
• strategic approaches to target hardening
• operational approaches to target hardening

4. Exchanging information and building linkages with the community

5. Privacy

6. Guiding principles

Interim conclusions and findings from the workshop sessions have been converted into a draft report that has been made available to the police jurisdictions’ representatives for them to ensure that views have been properly recorded and represented. Following the receipt of feedback from the participants, the AIPM will provide a copy of the report to all jurisdictions; it will include ‘guiding principles’ that the Commissioners might consider adopting in their agencies.

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