Page 2201 - Week 06 - Thursday, 6 June 2019
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We have provided the initial investment and now the task for the leadership of ACT Policing is to broaden their discussion with the membership of their force and to refine the model, taking the troops along the journey.
There is also more work to do in bringing the ACT community along with the changes that will result from the futures work and a new police service model. As I work with the Chief Police Officer to implement these reforms we will draw on the lessons of the forces we met in the UK and continue liaising with them to ensure that ACT Policing remains one of the best policing models around the world.
Our discussions in West Midlands also included pill testing. This initiative has been in place in that region for some time. It is clear that, from a harm reduction perspective, it is supported by their Police and Crime Commissioner and also by the police. Pill testing is good for the community and good for law enforcement. West Midlands has shown the benefits of this initiative. I am proud to serve in a government that has championed this for our territory. I thank the Minister for Health and Wellbeing for her leadership on this important initiative.
Before I finish, I briefly comment on austerity, something I mentioned earlier. My visit made it clear to me that austerity is bad for law and order and negatively impacts upon our community. Austerity in the UK has cut support for those that need government help the most. Removing this support impacts on our community in many ways. Firstly, it increases the burden on health services and, secondly, it increases demands on first responders such as police and emergency services. Mental health callouts have increased for first responders and more time is spent by them on these issues because the necessary support services are simply not there.
Other adverse outcomes have included an increase in certain crimes. For example, cuts to alcohol support services have seen crime increase. This is because those that need help cannot access it, and in order to deal with their addiction they turn to crime. These are just some examples. It is clear that if you want to be tough on crime, tough on law and order, you need to look at the whole picture and take a systemic approach. Simply filling prisons does not serve anyone well. If anything, it increases the overall burden on the budget and reduces the limited moneys available to invest in other important community safety initiatives.
The mission to the United Kingdom was timely and has helped shape many of the investments made in this year’s budget for police and emergency services. I am proud of this year’s budget, proud that this government is looking after all our community and is investing in a range of services that help build communities, not prisons.
In closing, I thank all the officials we met while in the UK. They were very generous of their time and provided frank advice. I am also grateful for their insights into the endeavours we are looking at and their efforts to provide valuable information and the knowledge of their experience in support of our own reforms. I also thank the Australian Federal Police officers posted at the High Commission in London for their assistance in helping set up the meetings and being conduits for information. We are very well served by having them there. It was clear that the Australian Federal Police is very well regarded across the world by its counterparts. And we are fortunate for our own relationship with the AFP through ACT Policing as well.
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