Policing powers

I often agree with Gary Meyerhoff’s views regarding the decriminalisation of drugs, but this time he is off the track (Letters, August 6).

He seems to be saying people should conform and do what they are told, leave the thinking to us, but if you can’t take the “new order”, then “hasta la vista, baby, you’re off the program”.

The police have a perfect and legitimate right to express discomfort with their inevitable embroilment in the equally inevitable backlash against the “socially divisive legislation” we speak of.

Rather than ignore the issue and let the public perception be “the cops will just uphold the law and hassle and heavy any protesters because that’s what their bosses want”, the police association has chosen to remind the legislators of their responsibilities to the electorate, that they are there to enact policies that have a mandate from their citizens, and that they should not assume the police will jump each time they whistle, and that while police acknowledge there must be loyalty as an employee, there is also a concurrent obligation and duty and duty to themselves and to their fellow human beings.

I believe the police, like the military, have a right to express opinions and feelings like these – history has repeatedly shown that many despotic regimes have been overthrown by the uprising of the people with the police and military on their side.

A counter argument may be the numerous police states and military dictatorships around the world, but the point I wish to make is that this is not their world – we elected them to represent us, and the NT police have as much right, and are as duty-bound, as the rest of us, to safeguard our country from tyranny and anarchy.

The people truly united in the interest of just and humane government are an awesome force – and every unpopular government’s nightmare.

Maurice Bishop
Leanyer

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Tue, 16 Aug 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Maurice Bishop (Letter to the editor)
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283