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Duties and Tasks
Police officers may perform the following tasks: - promote crime prevention and undertake community policing activities to improve the quality of community life
- patrol assigned areas on foot or in vehicles to check security of property and watch for unusual activity
- apprehend law breakers
- investigate criminal offences and question suspicious people about their activities
- gather information about crimes and accidents by talking to victims and witnesses and taking notes and statements in writing
- direct and re-route traffic at congested areas
- respond to citizens' complaints and attend scenes of disturbances and reported illegal activities
- guard prisoners
- detain and search suspects for weapons and stolen goods or drugs
- work with ambulance, firefighting and defence force personnel to control emergency situations such as floods, bomb threats and chemical spills
- assist injured and distressed people and search for missing or lost people
- carry out routine clerical work
- issue infringement notices for traffic offences
- attend special events such as football matches and control crowds where necessary
- give evidence in court from previously prepared briefs and notes
- undertake random breath tests of drivers to detect those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- secure crime and accident scenes, and locate or obtain evidence for analysis
- give sympathetic, constructive and reassuring assistance and feedback to victims of crime.
Specialisations
After gaining experience, police officers may seek entry to specialist areas such as criminal investigation (detective work), radio communications, prosecutions, juvenile aid, accident investigation, water police, dog handling, traffic control, the mounted unit, education and training, and human resource management. (Tasmania Police do not have a mounted unit.)
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Quick Facts
