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THE MEETING A JOINT STATEMENT WAS AGREED, IN WHICH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FOUR ASSOCIATIONS REAFFIRMED THEIR LOYALTY TO THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND STATED THAT IN FUTURE ALL ISSUES (EG COMPLAINTS ABOUT ICAC METHODS AND TACTICS) WOULD BE PURSUED THROUGH NORMAL CHANNELS AND NOT BY PUBLIC PROTEST.
12. ON THE SAME DAY, 7 NOVEMBER, DURING A SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR STATED THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER CONCESSION AND LEGISLATION WAS ENACTED GIVING THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE THE POWER TO DISMISS SUMMARILY ANY OFFICER WHO DISOBEYED A LAWFUL ORDER. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE SUBSEQUENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT PUBLIC PROTEST GATHERINGS BY MEMBERS OF THE FORCE WERE
PROHIBITED.
ASSESSMENT
13. THE MORALE AND PUBLIC STANDING OF THE POLICE FORCE HAVE SUFFERED A SEVERE SETBACK DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
ON 8 NOVEMBER THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE POLICE FORCE WAS AGAIN CARRYING OUT ITS NORMAL DUTIES EFFECTIVELY. THE REACTION OF PUBLIC AND CIVIC BODIES INDICATES THAT GOVERNMENT IS WIDELY SUPPORTED IN ITS DECISION NOT TO MAKE FURTHER CONCESSIONS. THIS REACTION HAS LESSENED THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY FURTHER
PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION FROM THE POLICE.
14. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE HARDCORE OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS RANK AND FILE OFFICERS CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS WHO
PRESSED FOR FURTHER CONCESSIONS NUMBER A FEW HUNDRED, MANY OF WHOM ARE UNDER ACTIVE ICAC INVESTIGATION. THE MILITANTS HAVE RECEIVED NO SUPPORT FROM OTHER PRESSURE GROUPS OUTSIDE THE POLICE FORCE OR FROM PUBLIC FIGURES AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FROM OTHER SECTORS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
15. ON THE SURFACE, MUCH OF THE HEAT APPEARS TO HAVE GONE, BUT THE POSSIBILITY CANNOT BE DISCOUNTED THAT THE GROUP OF DESPERATE MEN BEHIND THE PROTEST WILL SEEK TO EXPOLOT ANY OPPORTUNITY OR CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THEM. THE SITUATION WILL CONTINUE TO REQUIRE CAREFUL HANDLING AND A POTENTIAL THREAT TO THE SECURITY OF THE TERRITORY STILL REMAINS.
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