Staff blamed in police guns theft
By LINDA DOHERTY
Criminals may be impersonating police and using their guns following the
theft of two pistols and a police leather jacket from two police
stations, State Parliament was told yesterday.
The Police Service confirmed that two semi-automatic Glock pistols were
stolen from Newtown police station on June 9, and a 17-year-old youth
was cautioned for his undisclosed involvement in "the theft of police
equipment" from Menai police station on August 8.
Sources said the new semi-automatic Glock pistols must have been stolen
by Newtown station staff because they were locked in a secure gun safe.
The Opposition said the public had been put at risk because neither the
Government nor the Police Service had issued warnings about the
unrelated thefts.
The Police Minister, Mr Whelan, told Parliament yesterday the
"disappearance of the Glocks" was being investigated and expressed
concern that publicity may hinder inquiries.
Mr Whelan last week told a Budget Estimates Committee that "no gun has
been taken, I am advised, and we have not lost any" from any police
station. He later sought to clarify his answer but was prevented by the
committee from giving evidence in-camera. The Upper House Greens MP who
questioned Mr Whelan, Ms Lee Rhiannon, said Mr Whelan and the Police
Commissioner, Mr Ryan, then privately confirmed the theft.
"Commissioner Ryan took responsibility for the information and said he
had given the minister incorrect advice," Ms Rhiannon said.
A spokesman for Mr Ryan said last night the commissioner "gave the
answer he thought was right but when he realised it was wrong he moved
to correct it as quickly as possible".
Ms Rhiannon said she asked the question on behalf of youth groups who
were concerned at "consistent rumours about Glocks going missing".
Stolen police equipment recovered from the Menai theft included bullets
and a can of capsicum spray, and "other equipment is still outstanding",
police said.
The Opposition spokesman on police, Mr Andrew Tink, said there was a
"real risk people are out there impersonating police" and the primary
concern "should be about informing the public". The Opposition Leader,
Mrs Chikarovski, who raised the matter in Parliament, said it was
extraordinary the Government "has failed to warn the public of these thefts".
"The theft of guns, ammunition and police insignia is a gravely serious
incident and the Government should have alerted the public to the risk
of criminals using police equipment," she said.
A spokesman for Mr Whelan said police had responsibility for assessing
the public safety risk. If a risk had been identified, Mr Whelan or Mr
Ryan would have issued a warning.
A Police Service statement said: "NSW Police today confirmed the
investigation into the theft of two police issue service revolvers from
Newtown police station on Wednesday, 9 June, is continuing. In a
separate and unrelated incident involving the theft of police equipment
from Menai police station on 8 August, a 17-year-old youth was
apprehended and the investigation is continuing."
The youth group Justice Action said the secrecy surrounding the Glocks'
theft was symptomatic of the "deceit and irresponsibility" of the NSW
Police Service.
"That these lethal weapons can go missing from a police station does not
show the sort of professional competence the public demands from its
police service," a spokesman, Mr Brett Collins, said.
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