Tas Police are up to their old tricks again. The article in the Mercury (thurs sept 3rd) regarding the paparazzi and the Danish Royals is too fantastic to be even taken half seriously. Police  also have laws which they to must adhere to as well. It would better all round if information diseminated by police was not misinformation.

In their ever eager rush to please their political masters  they published incorrect information in an effort to stop paparazzi scrambling for photos of Mary & Fred while in Tassy. They quoted section 13(a)of the police offences act, but whoops conveniently forgot to mention section13(d) which is printed below .

13D. Persons who are not criminally responsible for an offence under section 13A or 13B

     . (3) A person is not criminally responsible for an offence under section 13A or 13B if –

(a) the person is, at the time of the offence, acting in the course of the person's occupation or employment; and

(b) the person's conduct is reasonable in the circumstances for the performance of the occupation or employment.

      (4) The onus of proving the matter or thing referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) lies on the person referred to in those paragraphs.

The proper thing to do would have been to appeal to the media,not to promote misinformation wrapped in threats of incarceration. This threatening ,bullying style of policing is not acceptable in the 21st century and the sooner police cop onto the idea the better.

 Attitude just like shit runs downhill, so it is little wonder that young police officers are surly and attitudal towards the general public when differences of opinion do occur at the coal face.

If police ever hope to have their occupation  given  "profession" status as they are trying to do,then they should start by acting professionally from the very outset. Their cavalier approach to absolute truth is reflected in their misleading annual stats  given to our parliament. That skewing practice is now finding its way into general misinformation statements as well it would seem.