Request for Feedback on Batons
The Commercial Agents have circulated correspondence to all Security Agents, Security Trainers and Security officers with a baton endorsement seeking comment on their proposed changes to the Weapons Act and the Security and Related Activities (control) Act as it applies to the ownership and carriage of an approved baton.
The current Situation
A security officer with the required endorsement may purchase a baton for use when he is at work. Depending on the shift pattern a may well be at different locations through the week i.e. Armadale to Joondalup. A reasonable person would expect that if the officer, in uniform can carry a baton at work then the journey to and from their employment is also reasonable.
The Proposed Situation
A security officer with the required endorsement may carry a baton whilst employed. The officer living in Armadale and working at Armadale must travel their office, pick up and sign for the baton, drive to Armadale, complete his shift, drive back to their office and then drive home. Interesting concept.
The Ownership of the Batons
Currently
Any person may purchase a baton either new or second hand without any record whatsoever being required by the seller. As a security officer you must have an endorsement to carry the baton and this endorsement is on file at Commercial Agents.
Proposed
That the agent be required to purchase the baton and be responsible for its deployment and return thereby adding significant financial burden and responsibility. Interesting concept.
Extract From Correspondence Received (Symon Bagley)
The transient nature of the security industry does not lend itself for correct disposal of prohibited weapons that increase the community safety risk of these weapons not being accounted for."
Given comments made by the Judiciary regarding the carriage of a machete by a person in Northbridge the above Statement seems incredible.
Training
Again, a reasonable person would expect that a Nationally Accredited, Police endorsed training provider, delivering certified training for licensing purposes, after application to the Commissioner be allowed to store and deploy batons during an accredited training program.
Conclusion
- The Storage of baton(s) by an agent is operationally not feasible.
- The purchase and deployment of the baton(s) by an agent is commercially prohibitive.
- If in fact the real issue is the correct disposal of the weapon when an officer leaves the industry then it must be a condition of licensing that the individual is responsible to hand the weapon in at an approved location when they leave the industry or face a significant fine.
The SAI are also seeking feedback from interested parties to allow us to compile a comprehensive, co-ordinated response on behalf of our members.