The NSW Greens want reforms to help support police officers who sustain psychological injuries. Source: AAP
TRAUMATISED police officers who take their own lives should be included in rolls of honour recording police deaths in the line of duty, the NSW Greens say.
THE proposal is part of a package of reforms unveiled by the minor party on Wednesday to bolster recognition and support for officers whose mental health suffers as a result of their work.
“Too often, psychological injuries are treated as second-class injuries by the NSW Police Force,” Greens justice spokesman David Shoebridge said. “(These officers) must be shown the respect, their spouses and family members must be shown the respect, they must be included on the honour roll.” Mr Shoebridge lashed out at the use of covert surveillance of officers by insurance companies investigating their compensation claims, which he says often continues for years. “Hypervigilance, paranoia – these are symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and those symptoms are aggravated by psychological surveillance. That must end,” Mr Shoebridge said. Belinda Neil, a former homicide investigator and hostage negotiator, was medically retired in 2005 with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after years of attending some of the most harrowing crime scenes in NSW. She said better support or early intervention from the force could have kept her in the field. Instead, she says, superiors expected her to toughen up. “The initial reaction was that I was putting it on,” she said. “Unfortunately that is what I put up with. But I’m not an isolated incident.” * Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467