In 1959 the Stock Investigation Squad was formed, with a Detective Sergeant in charge of three plainclothes members. Initially, the Squad was based at the Criminal Investigation Branch, Brisbane, but was decentralised in 1964-65 to Charters Towers, Rockhampton, Cloncurry, Roma, and Blackall. Later Longreach replaced Blackall, and Charleville, Mareeba, Toowoomba and Kingaroy were added.
Stock squad personnel were primarily made up of Police officers with some degree of rural experience. In the past, a good number of these men served at the Mounted Police facility at Oxley, and were competent horsemen. The skill to work stock, cattle, horses and sheep was an essential requirement of a Stock Squad officer; as well as the ability to identify breeds and mothering up of calves, for establishing ownership was always an issue in stock investigations. The majority of these police officers were excellent bushmen, who were able to conduct musters in very inhospitable terrain and country.
Back in the 1960’s, stock investigations were often carried out conjointly with the Criminal Investigation Branch. Stock that were taken possession of at that time, were guarded round the clock until the case was determined by the Courts. The equipment supplied to stock squads included trail bikes, in lieu of horses, four wheel drive vehicles and floats. Trail bikes were suitable in some locations but never completely replaced horses, as these remained the most suitable means of mustering stock, though maintaining horses was costly (feed, vet bills, and suitable paddocks to keep the animals). Bikes, however, also suffered mechanical problems as well as tyre problems.
The 1970s saw a wider use of technology as part of investigative methods. Camera kits were introduced on issue to stock squads. Photography was frequently utilised to capture images of exhibit livestock. The cameras enabled members of the Stock Squad to pursue their investigations independent of the Photographic Branch, which was previously called in to assist. A few years later video cameras began to be introduced. Prosecution of a stock case at Elgin Downs, near Clermont used video records as evidence in court. The committing magistrate for Mackay commended the Police on the presentation of the video evidence. It was also hoped that with the development of better surveillance and recording methods, the need to retain stock exhibits would be eliminated.
The Stock Squad was also often enlisted to detect marijuana plantations, apply the Fauna Conservation Act, and assist the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Queensland Fisheries Services. The Squad’s work has included the eviction of illegal squatters from national parks, investigating the kangaroo meat trade, and checking deer farming practices.
Stock and Rural Crime Investigation Squad, 2006. Image courtesy of Detective Sergeant B.Murphy, SARCIS.
In 2006, the role of the Stock Squad was expanded and the name changed to the Stock and Rural Crime Investigation Squad (SARCIS). The new role of the Squad was to provide support to the Regions by identifying, targeting and suppressing criminal networks and associated criminal activities relating to livestock and rural crime.
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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available. Information for the article was supplied by SARCIS OIC Detective Sergeant Brendan Murphy, and edited by Museum Volunteer and Crime and Policing Historian Dr Anastasia Dukova.
The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au
“FROM the VAULT – Stock and Rural Crime Investigation Squad” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode