ALL VICTORIA POLICE SHOULD BE MADE TO HAVE DRUG TEST NOW

Victoria Police boost anti-speeding arsenal with new handheld laser devices

LEADFOOTED motorists are facing an expanded web of roving speed traps.

Victoria Police has added 40 new handheld laser devices to its arsenal, and promises more checks in more locations.

Hand-held laser and radar units are distinct from the state's network of mobile and fixed speed cameras, overseen by the Department of Justice.

They are expected to reap the State Government $325.3 million in fines this year - up by $38.3 million from the previous year.

But the Napthine Government has dismissed criticisms that police are being used for "revenue raising".

It defends increased enforcement as potentially life-saving.

And it says fines are a "voluntary tax" by speeders.

Police "on-the-spot" fines, which would include speeding tickets issued after laser or radar detection, are forecast to grow by $2.7 million to $162.2 million this year.

2The 40 new speed guns cost about $180,000.

The number of radar and laser units has quietly grown by about 300 since 2010. There are now more than 400.

Victoria Police spokesman Sergeant Sharon Darcy said the "small procurement" was in line with government strategy.

"The additional equipment will enable more members to perform more hours of speed detection (and) enforcement in more areas," Sgt Darcy said. "Law-breakers should be prepared for even more fines in the future."

The State Government's 10-year road safety strategy, released earlier this year, specifically notes "increased enforcement of speed limits" to try to help slash the road toll by 30 per cent.

The Coalition has already announced $28 million over four years for "state-of-the-art mobile road safety technology", to help cut the annual $3 billlion economic cost of road trauma.

This is separate to the handheld lasers bought by police, which do not take photographs and which require officers to issue on-the-spot fines.

Opposition police spokeswoman Jacinta Allan questioned the Napthine Government's policing priorities.

"Instead of giving police additional resources to tackle spiralling crime rates, the Government is using police as revenue raisers," she said.

"Victorian families should be alarmed that Premier Denis Napthine has put revenue raising ahead of tackling rising crime rates," Ms Allan added.

But Police Minister Kim Wells said more speed checks could help save lives.

"We know enforcement of speed zones reduces crash rates," Mr Wells said.

"And the Coalition is committed, under our Road Safety Strategy, to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 30 per cent over 10 years," the Police Minister said.

"Fines are a voluntary tax. Don't speed."

A most revealing ultimatum from the Victoria Police

Cops told to choose sides -- the crooks or the law! Amazing that such an ultimatum needed to be issued 

The state's top anti-corruption cop has warned police who are mates with criminals they must decide between the force and their friends. Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius revealed he was also concerned at links between serving members who were being used by disgraced former colleagues. "If someone feels that passionately about maintaining a relationship - and I want to be clear here, we're talking about avoidable relationships, we're not in the business of busting up families - it comes down to a choice," Mr Cornelius told the Herald Sun in an exclusive interview. "If you value your friendship more highly than your profession, you need to choose between your profession or that relationship." 

Since last December, officers have been ordered to make known relationships with criminals, accused criminals, former members convicted or suspected of criminal behaviour and serving members under suspension. Officers' managers can direct a relationship to cease if they deem there is a risk. 

The Police Association yesterday said the rules were a "sledgehammer to crack a walnut" but Mr Cornelius said almost all available officers had complied with the system. "It's also given a number of members the courage to say to these individuals, 'We're ruling a line here and I'm not going to associate with you any more'," he said. 

Mr Cornelius added: "There are a number of former members convicted of serious criminal offences or suspected of serious criminal offences who seek to actively maintain relationships with serving police. "If there is any serving officer who thinks that relationship is being sought to be maintained for purely social or altruistic reasons, they're kidding themselves. They're being used." 

The vast majority of disclosures were of unavoidable links with family members or people from community groups, he said. Mr Cornelius said most of the avoidable associations were with suspended serving police, relationships that are the subject of management plans. "Often these people have worked together for some time, indeed they might be friends, long-standing associates. You need to approach that with some sensitivity. "The critical thing is to make sure we know about it," he said. Mr Cornelius said the policy did not regulate professional contact with criminals - but professional officers were not friends with their informers. 

Police Association secretary Sen-Sgt Greg Davies said he supported any measure aimed at stopping police fraternising with criminals. But he said the Police Regulations Act already had rules to deal with the wrongful release of confidential information. "This is all part of a very unhealthy, unhelpful and incorrect perception that there are corrupt police under every bed," Sen-Sgt Davies said. "It's a sledgehammer to crack a walnut." 

Mr Cornelius said in the first six months of the policy there had been instances where police had been caught leaking confidential information to "persons of interest to us". "It's clear to us that in those cases, the individual police officers have not submitted declarable association reports in relation to those individuals. "Here is clear evidence that the member knew he or she was doing the wrong thing," Mr Cornelius said.