Page 2940 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 12 October 2022
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means for our road users. The experience and skills of ACT Policing officers working in TORIC have been vital to the successful outcomes to date, and I thank them for their ongoing commitment and dedication to our community.
Mr Hanson: Madam Speaker, I seek your guidance on a point of order. I asked a question about Operation TORIC yesterday and the minister refused to answer because he said that these are operational matters for the chief police officer, but today he is waxing lyrical about these issues. I am confused, I must say, because he said yesterday that it was not within the administrative orders an ability for him to answer; today it is.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, resume your seat. You may be confused; I am not confused. He is answering the question.
MR GENTLEMAN: I did try to wax lyrical about it yesterday, but Mr Hanson kept interjecting. The new capabilities and skills of these officers will go to benefit the whole of the ACT police as officers return to those other teams, as well. ACT Policing is doing terrific work; however, ultimately, compliance with the law is a shared responsibility amongst our community. Information from the community remains crucial, and details of vehicles and individuals involved are extremely helpful to police. While the information can be provided anonymously, a public willingness to provide information greatly enhances ACT Policing’s ability to take action. So I strongly encourage Canberrans to continue to report any incidents.
DR PATERSON: Minister, has ACT Policing observed further impacts on different crime types in the Canberra community stemming from its activities under Operation TORIC?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Dr Paterson for the question. I am pleased to report that Operation TORIC has seen a positive impact on other crime types. We know that stolen vehicles are used to facilitate other crimes, and ACT Policing has observed that all offenders apprehended to date were previously known to police. So, since Operation TORIC began, police have seen reductions in other offences such as burglaries and numberplate theft. Police suspect that this will be one of the additional benefits of this operation, and it is good to see that the early results have confirmed that.
Importantly, this reduction in targeted and associated crime types frees other police to respond to incidents still occurring across the ACT. So, it is great work from ACT Policing in Operation TORIC. It is a win for the safety of the Canberra community through the apprehension of serious offenders, and a commensurate reduction in the number of crime types. So Operation TORIC has been so successful the CPO has now advised that it is an ongoing taskforce. I look forward to informing the Assembly about Operation TORIC’s future successes.
I commend the ACT Policing’s efforts to address this serious issue, and the ongoing work of ACT Policing. Of course, ACT Policing members constantly face the challenge and dangers work environment—an inherent feature of policing. The last few years have undoubtedly tested their resilience, professionalism and dedication in new ways. They have met the challenges that they have faced, and at all times have
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