Simon Overland carries bullets on plane.

[Hvr]

Victoria’s top police officer has been caught carrying bullets on a domestic flight - an offence that carries a maximum seven-year jail term...

Mr Overland had already flown from Melbourne to Canberra that day with the bullets in his hand luggage. It was not until he attempted to board a Qantas flight back to Melbourne that Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers discovered the security breach. A statement from Victoria Police confirmed the incident, but stressed that it had been a mistake and a genuine oversight.

Glad to see that CBR screeners caught this after their MEL colleagues missed the bullets. Wonder what will happen to him? If he isn't charged then it may be argued that there is one rule for some and another for the little people.

 

[Pvcmenace]

He is the Chief of police... Better him than someone else to bring it to securities attention

 

[UP4014]

Or he could some how bypass the Vic security using his commissioner status but couldn't in Canberra.

Regardless, he should suffer the same fate as anyone else in that situation. Overland was always one for having a go at the previous commissioner about rules and sticking to them. (I'm guessing they just take the bullets like they do with nail clippers)

 

[harvyk]

If it is found to be a genuine oversight (which I suspect it is), then certainly a fine is in order, but I don't know if jail is quite necessary (which is what he is now potentially facing)...

I think the people who should be more worried is the security screeners in Melbourne. I would not want to be in their shoes right now.

I personally think aviation security has gone so over the top (seriously, what will 101ml worth of water actually do to an international flight?), and yet are failing to look for the basics. (I doubt the bullets where concealed in any way)

 

[samh004]

I’m sure a fine would be in order, but for an actual mistake, I don’t see what good a jail sentence would be. After all, the maximum sentence is what can happen, it’s not what has to happen.

I watch too much Law & Order, but wouldn’t the choice to prosecute go to the prosecutors office or similar, it’s not the police officers choice?

As a child I once carried spent bullets from a SMG on a plane in hand luggage. Completely forgot they were there flying back from LHR and no one noticed, however, flying back to the UK from HKG the airport police with their real SMG’s and looking pretty intimidating found them… they examined them for a bit, found they were harmless and said I could pick them up on the other end, never did though.

It was an accident, I wasn’t jailed or fined.

 

[trooper]

I may have a different view... as I load, handle (and then fire) several hundred rounds of pistol ammo each week..:mrgreen:

BUT... ammunition sans firearm is WAY less dangerous than even the smallest pair of scissors or blade... as you really can NOT do any harm with it....

The perception that cartridge ammunition can "explode" etc is understandable when no knowledge of it is held... but it really IS very harmless... which is no doubt why by IATA agreement EACH PAX is allowed to have up to 5 kilograms (or 400+ 9mmm rounds) in their checked baggage.. It is categorised as being of "No significant hazard"....

A 9mm round (which is what I suspect these were) is very small (thus easy to overlook both ny the owner AND the screeners) and not heavy enough to even do much damage if you threw it!

My travelling buddy passed through 5 or 6 security screenings both here and overseas before finally being stopped at SIN.... where they unpacked his rolled up raincoat (from his carry on) and found a SPENT 45 "Long" Colt case in the pocket... (Note that a 45 Colt cartridge alone is about twice the size of a loaded 9mm)

If we are going to point out how ridiculous some of the restrictions are.. (Nail clippers and so on) then we really should be consistent and accept that cartridge ammunition is equally harmless.....

YMMV of course!:mrgreen:

 

[SimonM]

I can't see why bullets alone are a problem.

What I am interested in is the ABC's statement:

Mr Overland, who carries a weapon for security reasons, ...

Assuming they mean for his personal security, I had no idea that a Police Commissioner, a civil servant, would be considered a target.

 

[trooper]

Given that AFP Assitant Commissioner Colin Winchester was murdered in his own driveway I'd say senior police now would HAVE to assume some level of risk...

At very least the guy "at the top" could be targeted by someone with an unfocused grievance?

 

[medhead]

Assuming they mean for his personal security, I had no idea that a Police Commissioner, a civil servant, would be considered a target.

That'd be a new one for me. I don't know overland, but every other police commissioner i've heard of had been police officers.

I personally think aviation security has gone so over the top (seriously, what will 101ml worth of water actually do to an international flight?),

It's not about what 101ml of water will do. it's about what 101ml of liquid explosive will do.
But I agree security is way over the top, having been asked to remove my shoes last night at SYD for the first time in the last 8 weeks of going through there at about the same time wearing the same shoes

 

[samh004]

It's not about what 101ml of water will do. it's about what 101ml of liquid explosive will do.

What would 99ml of wat… I mean liquid explosive do?

 

[straitman]

If it is found to be a genuine oversight (which I suspect it is), then certainly a fine is in order, but I don't know if jail is quite necessary (which is what he is now potentially facing)...

He should be treated the same as anyone else in this matter :!:

I think the people who should be more worried is the security screeners in Melbourne. I would not want to be in their shoes right now.

We need more information to form any real conclusion on that.

I personally think aviation security has gone so over the top (seriously, what will 101ml worth of water actually do to an international flight?), and yet are failing to look for the basics. (I doubt the bullets where concealed in any way)

No disagreement fom me however it is irrelevant to this case.

 

[SimonM]

That'd be a new one for me. I don't know overland, but every other police commissioner i've heard of had been police officers.

I wasn't really making a point about police officers being civil servants or not, more that I think it's a shame that people working in the interests of the community as a whole should fear for their lives in our country. It might be reality, but a sad one.

 

[medhead]

I wasn't really making a point about police officers being civil servants or not, more that I think it's a shame that people working in the interests of the community as a whole should fear for their lives in our country. It might be reality, but a sad one.

Well that is a fair point.

I don't think fearing for your life is limited to police commissioners. I've even heard of an EPA inspector getting murder for doing their job. And I'd say there are a few people in this country who would ahve no problem with knocking off any police officer who tried to prevent their illegal activities.

Sad really.