Queensland police deny quota claims on new electronic ticketing trial

The reports come as the force prepares to trial a new electronic ticketing system intended to replace conventional hand-written on-the-spot fines.

Responding to a claim that News Corp had obtained an internal memo that called on officers to “focus all of your time issuing tickets” during the trial, Acting Assistant Commissioner for Road Police Command Mick Keating told ABC News this week that no specific orders were given.

"What we have here is an officer in a supervisory position at one of our road policing units who is talking to his team of staff, who are part of a trial that starts on the 10th of August," Keating said.

He added that although the line “a minimum of 10 tickets per shift” does appear in the memo, it was intended as a “nominal figure”.

"I'd be happy if they didn't have to issue one ticket per day as a result of this technology," he said.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers told ABC News that the memo reveals the extent of Police Commissioner Ian Stewart’s “mantra on running the police service as a business”.

He warned that imposing any quota on the issuing of penalty notices would damage the service’s standing with the public.