Conduct improves, officers swear

POLICE officers appear to be getting more foul-mouthed if a 6.3 per cent jump in complaints about swearing this year is anything to go by.

A total of 186 offensive language allegations were lodged by the public during the first half of 1994, compared with 175 during the same period last year. A total of 371 allegations were lodged during the whole of last year.

But while officers' language may appear to have deteriorated, their conduct in all other areas appears to have improved.

The Complaints Against Police Office recorded 1,501 total complaints so far this year, down 10.4 per cent from the 1,675 recorded during the first half of 1993. A total of 3,367 complaints were received during the whole of last year.

The 1,501 complaints involved 1,895 allegations, with the most prevalent being assault, offensive language and conduct or poor manner, and neglect of duty.

To the end of June, 181 cases were informally resolved, 172 cases were withdrawn, 77 cases were being investigated further and 154 cases remained pending further inquiries.

The complaints office instituted three prosecutions this year. One officer was prosecuted for common assault, one for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one for doing an act tending or intended to pervert the course of public justice.