The Only Ones Forgetful Enough

The highly trained and professional "only ones" from Down Under seem to be a bit...forgetful, shall we say?

POLICE in New South Wales have lost track of a wide range of equipment including handcuffs, bulletproof vests, capsicum spray, radios, uniforms and even a squad car.

Now, I can perhaps understand losing a set of handcuffs, perhaps even a radio (pursuit on foot, that sort of thing) but how, exactly, do you misplace a "bulletproof vest" or a squad car? Forget where you parked, Officer?

The state Opposition obtained the list of police items lost or stolen in the 2006-07 financial year during NSW Budget estimates committee hearings.

It includes six sets of handcuffs, 11 cans of capsicum spray, 40 portable radios and three police radios.

40 radios seems a bit extreme- perhaps they need a training programme on how not to misplace vital communications equipment; "put it in the pouch and make sure that the fastener is closed". There, that should do it. Note too that there were an additional three police car radios stolen.

Uniform items including caps, jackets and rain suits have gone missing as well as 14 bulletproof vests.

Are there lots of partially clad policemen wandering around trying to find their radios?

One police vehicle was also unaccounted for during the 2006-07 year.

Oops. To be fair though, that was apparently stolen. If only there were some organisation around whose job it was to stop thieves from breaking the law...