Safety PIN on the Peninsula – staff shortages unsafe

Joining the growing list of members who are putting safety first, an upcoming racing event on the Mornington Peninsula was yesterday deemed unsafe for members because of resource shortages.

A Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN) was yesterday issued in response to an inadequate policing presence planned at the Mornington Spring Cup to be held on 2 November. 

The PIN obliges WorkSafe to undertake a thorough safety investigation to ensure that members will not work in high-risk, under-resourced conditions.

The Mornington Spring Cup is one of the biggest non-metropolitan racing events on the spring calendar. It is a licensed event that can attract more than 15,000 people and over the last two years has resulted in 12 arrests.

Every year since 2002, approximately 30 members have been rostered to work at the event.

This year, that figure has diminished considerably, with only four members (one sergeant and three senior constables) planned to provide a police presence at the event.

It is clear that such a limited police presence at an event of this magnitude puts both members and the public in danger. Yet, it is just one example of many that highlight severe resourcing inadequacies across the state.

We are hopeful that this PIN will ensure that there will be adequate police numbers at the Spring Cup, providing adequate levels of safety for members and the Mornington community.

This is the fourth PIN issued since the Association renewed its focus on the issue of member health & safety as part of the SOS – Save Our Streets campaign. 

Greg Davies