Page 3544 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 12 October 1994
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COUNTRY TOWN POLICING - TRIAL COMMUNITY
POLICING PROGRAM
Paper
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General and Minister for Health) (3.24): Madam Speaker, for the information of members, I present "An introduction to Country Town Policing in the Australian Capital Territory" - a document prepared by the Australian Federal Police - and I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
Madam Speaker, this is a booklet on an Australian Federal Police ACT Region initiative which has been termed "Country Town Policing". On 4 October 1994 I participated in the launch of the country town policing pilot which is being trialled in the suburbs of Kaleen and Ainslie and Campbell. The concept involves the stationing of an experienced police officer in the specific area or suburb to allow them to dedicate their resources to that particular community. They will use their skills and knowledge, in consultation with the community, to develop strategies and utilise their resources to effectively police their country town. Many of the traditional functions of the supervising sergeant will be devolved to the constable, to provide him or her with the authority, autonomy and flexibility to develop and pursue their own policing plan. They will have available to them the full range of resources of the ACT Region of the AFP to assist them in the implementation of strategies developed in consultation with their own community.
The residents of the ACT continue to give strong endorsement to the idea that the ACT Region of the AFP should involve the community in resolving problems and concerns. Country town policing now gives the ACT community a greater opportunity to participate in the policing of their own community. It is hoped that the residents of Kaleen and Ainslie and Campbell will become familiar with their designated constable through frequent contact as they patrol their neighbourhood on foot or bicycle, participate in community activities and respond to calls concerning criminal activity. The success of this pilot will ultimately depend on the willingness of the two communities to assist their constables by reporting crime and by actively participating in the process of solving problems being experienced in their own community.
The booklet contains a discussion paper written by the Chief Police Officer for the ACT, Assistant Commissioner Peter Dawson, entitled "An introduction to Country Town Policing in the Australian Capital Territory". This paper discusses the various aspects of the concept and how the model will work in this Territory. It also contains profiles of the two constables selected to undertake the venture, what they hope to achieve in the 12-month trial period of the pilot, and how they can be contacted.
This Government, Madam Speaker, is committed to keeping Canberra safe. In this context, country town policing is consistent with the Government's community safety strategy's vision, which is to maintain and enhance a safe community by reducing the level and fear of crime in the ACT. I have in recent months tabled the Community Safety Council's report Civic by Night. In part, country town policing will enhance
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