Features
Club boss denies kickback culture
Nikkii Joyce and Mark Furler 10th February 2010
CALM Liquor Accord Mooloolaba chairwoman Jo Simonelli said 99% of police shared a positive working relationship with her and other clubs and pubs would not participate in kickbacks such as free drinks. FILE IMAGE
A NIGHTCLUB owner has rejected suggestions there is a culture of free kickbacks for police on the Sunshine Coast.
CALM Liquor Accord Mooloolaba chairwoman Jo Simonelli said 99% of police shared a positive working relationship with her and other clubs and would not participate in kickbacks such as free drinks.
The Soave owner said she did not believe the allegations that were now part of a Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation.
“I have a number of police officers that come to my bar and club on a Friday and Saturday night off-duty and none of them would ever expect special treatment,” Ms Simonelli said.
“If it was offered on the basis of “here mate, have a beer” while they were off duty then it should be treated like anyone else being offered a drink (on the house).”
Ms Simonelli said the reports were another slight on the reputation of the Sunshine Coast suburb.
“I think it’s been blown completely out of proportion, and that Mooloolaba is targeted because of the high population in the area on the weekends,” she said.
“I don’t believe these latest reports.
“The police do great work with the CALM Liquor Accord by helping to keep the streets safe.”
Ms Simonelli said suggestions of free liquor for police may have started as a single complaint or a whisper that has now been made public without any significant evidence.
Police on the Coast have been accused of drinking liquor seized from under-age drinkers and using their identification while off-duty to avoid cover charges at nightclubs.
The Courier-Mail reported the Crime and Misconduct Commission is investigating a series of allegations after at least one officer blew the whistle on drinking rorts.
It is claimed that officers took alcohol seized from people drinking in a public place and drank it themselves at the station, taken it home or sold it in the social club.
The report said Kawana Police Station even had a second fridge specifically for seized booze.
Police have confirmed allegations had been investigated which included police cars being used to give off-duty officers a lift home from licensed premises and a free tab for police at one hotel.
It is understood one officer who provided transport was the subject of disciplinary proceedings.
Police officials have pointed out that the allegations relate to a small number of officers.
The claims follow revelations last week the CMC is investigating police on the Gold Coast, including alleged improper involvement in the club scene, drugs and bikie gangs.
Police Commisioner Bob Atkinson, a former Sunshine Coast detective, has denied there is widespread or systemic corruption within the service but said officers may have been corrupted by the Gold Coast's lifestyle.
What do you know about what's happening on the Sunshine Coast? Email our newsroom at news@thedaily.com.au
The Daily asked Queensland Police for a formal response to the allegations. We have run it in full below.
"Whenever property is seized pursuant to the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act (PPRA), or a warrant, a property receipt is to be issued.
"There are further requirements of police, such as supplying the officer’s details and correctly dealing with seized property. Significant specific policy exists on how officers are to do this.
"Generally a field property receipt QPB32A or a notebook entry is required anytime property is seized or taken into possession by police. This would include liquor.
"The QPS QPrime system automatically generates a receipt for seized property. In the last twelve months, approximately 3,200 incidents have been recorded where liquor has been seized by police.
"The majority of these involve on-the-spot tip-outs of alcohol rather than physical seizures.
"The QPS is a large organisation with over 14,000 employees. There were 5.2 million individual contacts by police with members of the community last year in Queensland.
"About 2500 complaints are made against members of the QPS each year.
"The allegations raised are general in nature.
"The QPS has investigated some matters that involved some of the allegations raised (e.g. one off duty officer being provided transport by officers on duty – this matter is the subject of current disciplinary proceedings) and has one other matter that is the subject of a disciplinary investigation (relating to allegations an officer did not deal with seized alcohol appropriately).
"Any specific details about the allegations referred to would be welcomed by the QPS so that the QPS can act on it. Alternately, the details can be provided to the CMC.''
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Recent comments on this article
They get free entry in to nightclubs?...big deal. I'd be VERY happy to know there are police, off duty, in a nightclub. No doubt if there was trouble, or a crime being committed, they'd be automatically back on duty and dealing with the offence...that can only be a good thing for the community. But of course, that aspect is conveniently forgotten on the witch hunt.
For as long as I've known, coppers got a few free beers at the local pubs and clubs. To drink at the local pubs and clubs was part of networking, getting information, being aware of what's happening in the town and getting people to behave in establishments because 'the coppers drink there'.
I, personally, couldn't care less if a police car that wasn't being used for 'business purposes' was used to give a police person a lift home every now and then.
Hasn't the Government and the Police Department got a lot better and more important things to be spending all that money on? For a start...doesn't Constable Dave need a quad bike? But yes, involvement with drugs and bikie gangs, a big no-no.
For a State that was run out of a brown paper bag for over a decade these alleged reports and claims seem like hunting for herring in a pod of minky whales. All public servants get a perk or two. Ask your local councillor. The number of corrupt police is ten times less than the number of corrupt carpenters. Ask the Institute of Criminology. So, in the spirit of fair mindedness this paper is so famous for, I look forward to hearing ten stories on corruption in the building trades real soon.
Its called professional courtesy. Reduced price for take aways and free entry into clubs....been around for years and years. Smart business sense for club owners to attract more police officers to their establishments in a hope to reduce trouble inside.
Is this a dull attempt to bring the Sunshine Coast up (or is it down) to the level of the Gold Coast ie "anything you can do we can do as well".
Its a hard enough job without being stories like this being sensationalised. Call it a perk of the job. We all get them one way or another and it certainly does not appear to have harmed anyone.
It is not the same as being in coherts with bikies and drug dealers so how about we get off their back..
Well you can't let the grog go stale.
Of course they drink confiscated booze. Everyone knows that cold beer left to go warm, and then later refrigerated, gets "cooked". Now that would be a waste!
Perhaps they should get paid more so that they can afford the little luxuries of life.
eg, I've driven past police headquarters before and seen a few of them out the back sharing the same cigarette. Poor blokes. Pay them more.
I had an incident in Nambour a few years back where my friends car was vandalized late one night.
We ended up calling the police, however when they arrived I could smell a distinct smell of alcohol on one of the officers (the one that wasn't driving).
Anyhow being a little intimidated I didn't say anything, but I did mention it to my friends after the officers had left. My friends and I being shocked at the thought of it, decided we should do something about it.
So at about 12:30am we rocked up at the Nambour police station and knocked on the door. The same two officers, a little surprised to see us again came and answered the door. I told them that I had smelt alcohol on one of them and the other one immediately jumped down my throat and started getting very irritated and lecturing us about how police officers would NEVER do such a thing. I told them I wanted to speak to their supervisor (who admittedly was probably in bed) and they wouldn't have a bar if it.
Any how they came outside in an irate state and ended up giving themselves a breathalyzer to try and prove to me that was wasting my time. Can you picture it? LOL. The breathalyzer results were (you guess it), 0.
It was quite full on at the time, but I still think about what would have happened if we did infact wake up their supervisor and report our concerns.
ashmoller, pretty weak attempt to draw away attention away from yourselves by having a go at police. No doubt you would be the last to stand up and be counted. How much time do you give back to the community?. My guess is your another 'Y' generation bludger who would welcome police when they here a noise at night when at home or get mugged in the street. I bet all fantasies of critisising police will evaporate at that point. Just grow up, Police work in the 'dark side'. Thats a place most people never get to see,
This story is based on nothing at all.
So what - Poilce officers get free public transport as well - and i have seen them assist during an incident on many occasions. Frankly i think they should get in everywhere for free as long as they can assist when needed.
Are you kidding me???
They are Police! We trust them with our life. We can trust them for free entry.
If I had a restaurant, bar, etc, Id be letting them in for FREE and special discounts.
These are the unsung heroes. Knife point, gun point, dealing with drunks, murders, terrible things, let them in for FREE!
Nothing wrong with giving them a lift!
Nothing wrong in this story.
About time we applaud the police. And the firemen, ambos. HERO”S
Just an example...In all Federal And State Govt's..... Jobs for the boys ....
is there anything different ???
The Daily should do a story on how cops get half price at Macca's and some times at subway. That would be an equally riveting piece of journalistic brilliance.
Maybe you could get ashmoller to assist in the investigative for the story. Judging by his last post he'd be great.
Well in any culture, business, department you get the good, the bad, the ugly.
Really if it is the case what harm is done, they are there in their own time aren't they, giving people lifts home officer, friends, others gosh isn't it better for them to receive a lift, I am sure they don't turn down jobs in order to do this.
These guys and girls work in very demanding, stressful, violent conditions and really hats off to you guys, let your hair down in your own time.
No wonder why police are leaving in droves and recruitment rates are low. When I go to work I give a hard days work but when I come home I am me I can stuff up all I want and it doesn't affect my job.
I too have been let in to clubs for free woo hoo the financial short fall is of the business nothing to do with the public or the govt.
Keep up the good work and enjoy yourself when you are out and about in your "personal lives" it should be yours to live!