Tuesday 22 June 2010

Police in Australia

Australia is generally a safe country. There are tens of thousands of people who come to live in Australia every year. Police officers in Australia work hard to keep the people safe at all times. Police officers are mostly men but there are thousands of women who work for the police too. Most police officers in Australia carry guns when they work.

The main job that police officers in Australia have is to help people. It is not to give people fines or arrest them. They only arrest people who break the law and commit crimes like stealing money from homes or businesses.

In some overseas countries police may ask for bribes and they can arrest anyone they like. This is called police corruption. In Australia this does not happen. A police officer has to show you his or her badge before they question you or ask to enter your house.

In police stations in Australia police must treat everyone with respect. The police officer who questions criminals is not allowed to slap them on the face or twist their arms to get them to talk.

Police officers often visit schools and talk to students about crimes and how to be safe. They tell them about the law in Australia and what to do when they need help.

If you ask for help from the police, you do not need to pay any money. Sometimes the police will come in a few minutes to the place where a crime has taken place. They try to come as soon as they can to arrest people who cause trouble, before they run away.

The police in Australia also use dogs to fight crime. They have many trained dogs that sniff out drugs and criminals. Dogs sometimes attack criminals who carry guns and help get them arrested.

Police officers in Australia deal with people whose first language is not English. They sometimes use the services of interpreters to be able to help those people more.

Police officers in Australia use cars, motorbikes, bikes and helicopters to keep peace and order. You can also see them walking on foot while they work. Sometimes they get special training to fight dangerous criminals who use guns and kill people.

Police officers are trained at the Police Academy. They do a lot of sports activities there to keep them fit and they learn about the law.

A police officer’s job is not an easy one. He or she can be asked to work different shifts and be on the job when other people are enjoying their holidays.