Page 638 - Week 02 - Thursday, 20 March 2014
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MRS JONES: Minister, can you please define what your definition of “sufficient resources” therefore is?
MR CORBELL: I take my assessment of these matters from the police. I believe the police are in the best position to make an assessment as to the resources they need to investigate, and I have had no suggestion from ACT Policing that they have a resource constraint in relation to these investigations. It is simply the nature of the offending behaviour and the difficulties associated with obtaining the evidence needed to proceed with an arrest of the person or persons involved. But I am confident they continue to take every step to try and achieve that outcome.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, how does somebody report an incident of this particular nature so that they can actually submit what they may believe is evidence in regard to tyre slashing?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Porter for her supplementary. It is the case that police rely very heavily on the advice and information that are submitted by members of the public. Whether it is this particular crime that Mrs Jones is referring to or any other crime, advice and information from the public are often critical to allow police to secure, first of all, sufficient evidence for an arrest and potentially a conviction in our courts.
I always encourage members of the public who see a crime being committed or who suspect that a crime has been committed to report the matter to Crime Stoppers. They can do so anonymously—
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, members!
MR CORBELL: or contact police directly. That way police can build their intelligence holdings in relation to particular matters. Further, of course, if people do see a crime being committed and are able to provide a witness statement, that can be extremely useful for police in proving the commission of an offence before the courts. So, as always, public cooperation on these matters is very, very important.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, how is it, after so many years of this crime being perpetrated on the people of Narrabundah, that there has been no conviction?
MR CORBELL: It is not appropriate for me to go into the details of this particular investigation. It is an ongoing and live police investigation and I am not going to compromise or disclose confidential elements of the investigation that could, if disclosed, compromise the ability of police to secure an arrest. That is the responsible thing to do. If Mrs Jones or other members of the opposition wish to have a briefing
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