Page 4041 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 24 October 1990
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not. This group was standing in the interchange and using intimidating language and actions to other members of the public. They were given a direction to move on, and they complied with that direction.
Apprehensions by police that violence might occur is one of the other areas that are covered by the legislation that was introduced and passed in this Assembly last year. On 30 December 1989 in Badham Street, Dickson, there was an incident involving one person. The report states:
A person was being spoken to in relation to a traffic matter when an unknown person placed himself between the offender and the police member. He was asked to remove himself so that further conversation could take place between the traffic offender and police. The male then became argumentative and a crowd began to gather. He was asked to move-on, which he did. The other spectators, who had gathered, also dispersed.
If that had continued, Mr Speaker, that person would have been arrested for hindering police. A violent situation could have developed, and other members of the crowd might have got into a fight with police. People could have ended up in court; people could have been injured. It was another classic case of the use of the powers stopping matters getting out of hand and protecting everyone.
On 2 March 1990, two people were in a public area at Woden Plaza. The police report states:
Both persons were consuming alcohol and using intimidating language to other persons in the area. One of these persons was underage. While police were obtaining information for an underage drinking caution the second person became aggressive towards police. Subsequently both persons used aggressive language to police. The situation was defused when each of the persons complied with an individual direction to move-on.
Apprehension that damage or injury may be caused is part and parcel of section 35 of the Police Offences Act, of which Mr Wood and his comrades in the Labor Party would deprive the citizens of Canberra if they had their way. At Burnie Court, Lyons, five people were involved in an incident, with no indication of alcohol, on 22 February 1990. The report states:
Damage had been caused to property in the area. One of the five youths was spoken to. Police believed that further damage would be caused and a direction to move-on was given to this person. All five persons left the area.
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