Page 283 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 2008
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Although the crime data indicates that many types of crime in Canberra are generally trending downwards, we all know that crime trends have peaks and troughs, sometimes reflective of seasonal changes or the heightened activity of a few recidivist offenders who may have been released from prison. It is well documented that a relatively small number of recidivist property offenders are responsible for the majority of crime in the ACT. The research clearly demonstrates that, where the criminal justice system can identify and target those high-volume offenders, to stop or reduce their offending behaviour, such action has the ability to have a real impact on overall crime rates. I should stress that I am not complacent about crime trends. At the individual level, the impact of crime on victims, their families and friends can be catastrophic.
I turn to the issue of property crime. The government is addressing the problems of property crime with much success. We are addressing domestic violence and sexual assault with innovative approaches and legislative reform. The ACT property crime reduction strategy is a whole-of-government, multi-agency response to reduce property crime, with a particular focus on burglary and motor vehicle theft. The targets used are based on reducing levels of crime from the 2003 base, using ABS annual recorded crime data.
Burglary data is showing a reduction of 10.8 per cent, which is 3.3 per cent above the strategy’s December 2006 target of 7½ per cent. Motor vehicle theft data is showing a reduction of 17.3 per cent, 2.7 per cent below the strategy’s December 2006 target of 20 per cent. These are good figures and show that rates of property theft, burglary and motor vehicle theft are all going down in Canberra.
Late last year, the government provided extra funding for the extension of the engine immobiliser program and the installation of motorcycle anchor points. This scheme provides $965,000, which equates to over 5,000 immobilisers over 18 months, to target motor vehicle theft in the ACT. In research conducted by the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, 55 per cent of Canberra citizens expressed concern about being the victim of motor vehicle theft. To address this problem, the government has expanded the engine immobiliser program. It will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 will assist the most vulnerable people—that is, low-income workers, recipients of a Centrelink benefit and full-time students. To qualify for this phase, you need to be the holder of a heath care card. This phase will provide over 2,000 engine immobilisers by way of a $200 voucher for the installation of the immobiliser, and that meets the full cost of the purchase and installation.
In July 2008, phase 2 will commence. This expands the scheme to cover all ACT citizens who drive an older vehicle which is not fitted with an immobiliser. This phase will deliver 1,050 vouchers, with a subsidy of $100, or 50 per cent of the cost. This will involve, obviously, a small commitment of funds from the recipient. Phase 2 will also deliver an additional 1,700 immobilisers, with the full subsidy, to the original target group.
The government is also trialling methods of anchoring motorcycles in a number of public car parks to tackle motorcycle theft in the ACT. Motorcycles are becoming an increasingly popular form of transport because they are easy to park, they have a lower environmental footprint than a car and they are very efficient in terms of fuel.
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