Police Attendance Frequently Asked Questions.
Before you contact the AEAWA please see if the below FAQ’s can assist you.
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Police Attendance FAQs
Do I have to attend a scene that is dangerous or perceived as dangerous if the Police refuse to attend?
If you arrive at a scene, and you perceive a threat, CALL FOR POLICE. Thats your job done!
It is NOT OUR JOB to enter scenes such as these. Its theirs; if they don’t not want to attend, then we do not go in. ITS THAT SIMPLE!
Officers who feel pressured to enter a scene they perceive is dangerous SHOULD NOT GO INTO IT!
Call the SOC Duty Manager; do not speak to any other employee over the phone. The Duty Manager needs to escalate the matter to senior Police.
If this fails and you are told to enter the scene. You reiterate your concerns, and state you have evaluated the risks, and that the scene is too dangerous to attend, or the patient is too aggressive to approach. Advise the Duty manager to dispatch a manager and wait until they arrive.
As soon as possible fill out an Incident Report.
I have been advised that we can break and enter the property, as the Police are refusing to attend. Do I have to follow this order?
Although there is a SOP currently being written for crews to break and enter a scene, this still DOES NOT mitigate the risk of what happens when you enter a scene you have perceived as dangerous.
If you have perceived a risk this overrides any policy St John decide to write. Again, discuss with the Duty Manager and ask for a Manager to attend.
You may get told over the phone that you have been given a ‘lawful order’ to enter the property.
Whether an employee can refuse to comply with a lawful and reasonable direction will depend on its reasonableness, and this in turn will depend on the particular circumstances of the employee.
Where the request is reasonable, the failure of an employee to follow a lawful and reasonable direction may be grounds for the employer to take disciplinary action against that employee (such as issuing a warning), and in some cases may constitute a valid reason for dismissal, provided a fair process is also followed.
The AEAWA believe that entering a perceived or actual dangerous location, where an imminent threat is perceived, or approaching an aggressive or violent patient is not a reasonable or lawful request or order.
I have been advised that although Police are not attending other agencies are coming to assist?
You may be advised that as Police are refusing to attend the scene other agencies may be tasked to assist you. The SOC Duty Manager may dispatch the Ranger if there are dogs on the property, to assist you gain entry, or they may dispatch DFES to gain entry to the scene.
However, once those agencies attend the scene, update them on the situation and what aggressive or imminent dangers/threats you have determined. If they decide not to go in, update the Duty Manager to again re-escalate to the Police. If they do enter the scene or approach the patient, that is up to them.
Again, protect yourselves and fill out an Incident Report. We need evidence to prove this WAPOL directive is beyond dangerous and ridiculous.
I have another question not covered here!
Please contact an AEAWA delegate for more information, or email [email protected]