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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 06 Hansard (Thursday, 24 June 2004) . . Page.. 2782 ..

(3) No.

(4) No.

Police force—recording devices
(Question No 1495)

Mr Pratt asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, upon notice, on 4 May 2004:

(1) Are any recording devices such as hand-held video cameras and audio recorders being used by police officers in the A.C.T. to record people when they are booked for traffic infringements in the A.C.T.;

(2) If so, (a) why are they being used, (b) what is being done with the recordings and (c) was there any awareness campaign implemented to alert the public that this was going to take place;

(3) If recording devices are being used by police officers and there was not an awareness campaign implemented to alert the public, why not.

Mr Wood: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) Yes.

(2) (a) Australian Federal Police members may use audio recorders to tape a conversation when issuing a Traffic Infringement Notice in order to protect themselves in the event that a complaint is made against them under the Australian Federal Police Discipline guidelines. Recording may also be used when an offence is committed in order to record material that will later be used as evidence as audio recording material is best practice. A number of Traffic Operations vehicles also have audio/video recording equipment for evidential purposes.

(b) Depending on the reason for the recording, and depending on the Act utilised, the officer may follow evidentiary processes and security measures as when a listening device is used under the Australian Federal Police Act 1979. Under the ACT Listening Devices Act 1992 the provisions for storage are ambiguous and at the discretion of the officer.

(c) The introduction of audio/video units to Traffic Operations vehicles, about two years ago, was widely publicised in the media.

(3) Not applicable.

Schools—staff structures
(Question No 1496)

Mr Pratt asked the Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, upon notice, on 4 May 2004:

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