From the Herald Sun:
Outrage at police ‘Melbourne West’ recruitment video
Paul Anderson
December 12, 2008 12:00amA VICTORIA Police video is using images of violent clashes with drunks and a confrontation with soccer hooligans to recruit officers to work in a city station.
The internal “BlueTube” film, seen by the Herald Sun, suggests suburban police sit around yawning, longing for action in the city.The portrayal of the suburban officers in the video, Melbourne West -Do You Have What it Takes? has insulted sections of the force and the police union.
The promotional film, which at first appears to be a parody of police life at a suburban station, is part of a police-approved recruitment drive for Melbourne West.
The Herald Sun believes police are having trouble recruiting officers for the station, partly because most of the work is dealing with violent drink and drug-affected revellers.
Controlling the city after dark, particularly on weekends, is a priority for police.
The two-minute video, seen far left, begins with two suburban uniformed officers loafing to a lullaby soundtrack.
They shake their heads at the lack of work as a caption says: “It’s so boring here.”
Later in the shift another officer says: “Look what’s happening at West.” His colleague, sitting with his feet up on a desk, replies: “Wish we were there . . .”
The music then becomes dramatic, with a video collage showing a mixture of images that end in flames.
Other footage includes police fighting and arresting violent trouble-makers and dodging flares at a soccer riot.
Words such as “Rewarding” and “Fun” flash up on the screen throughout.
“Clearly they need to attract people to Melbourne West,” Police Association secretary Sen-Sgt Greg Davies said.
“And there’s nothing wrong with working at Melbourne West . . . but to portray police working anywhere other than central Melbourne as being lazy layabouts with nothing to do is just wrong.
“It’s offensive. This is given clearance at the highest level, and it portrays police in suburban stations as bludgers reading the paper.
“Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Suburban officers said they were angry at being portrayed as layabouts.
“Representing suburban coppers like that is a joke,” one said.
“It is a slight on every hard-working copper at suburban stations.”
Senior police sources have defended the video, saying it had to be a true reflection of the work done on city duties.
A police spokeswoman said the video was made with police equipment at no extra cost to the force.
It was designed, created, filmed and edited by members of the Melbourne West station.
“There was never any intention to offend anyone. It’s designed to be light-hearted,” the spokesman said.
Yes. How hilarious.
