Queensland introduces scorecards for police, hoping to cut crime by 10%

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/03/queensland-introduces-scorecards-for-police

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Queensland will roll out a scorecard system for police in an effort to reduce crime by 10%.

The average number of traffic fines, random breath tests (RBTs), street checks and calls for service per officer will be assessed on the scorecards along with budgets and overtime.

Civil libertarians fear it is a return to the controversial "kill sheets" of the 1970s and ’80s where quotas for fines were set.

Terry O'Gorman, Queensland council for Civil Liberties vice-president, said the system could lead to police abusing their powers to reach quotas.

He said complaints were already being received about police abusing search powers after anti-bikie laws were passed late last year.

"Last year senior police indicated RBTs would be used as an opportunity to search cars for evidence of crimes other than drink-driving," O'Gorman said.

"This has led to police unnecessarily searching cars, and bullying and blustering innocent citizens into so-called `consent' searches."

He said police must be made to tape all contact with citizens when the new scorecard system began and urged the commissioner to introduce a rigorous monitoring system.

Scorecards are being trialled in several areas including the Gold Coast.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart told The Courier-Mail newspaper the scorecards were a way of "demonstrating to the public they are getting value for money" from the police.

He also said the system generally focused on the performance of a group of officers.

"And then the team leaders then assess the individual members. The balanced scorecard is more about group assessment than individual assessment and that is one of its strengths," he said.

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