Ms CARNEY - 2006-10-10
When comparing the June 2005 and June 2006 quarter crime statistics, the Territory-wide figures show that every area of property crime has risen by an average of 20%, and that includes a rise of over 40% in commercial property break-ins. As you would be aware, the Northern Territory Police Association has said that government will not achieve its 200 new operational police target by the end of this year. What specific policy measures do you have in place to address rising crime rates when you failed to get - and will fail to get - the numbers of police you want, especially when you see headlines like this: ‘Our beat cops go missing’? What are you going to do about it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen for her question. As the member for Nhulunbuy said, what you need to do is have a look at the full picture, not necessarily a snapshot of month to month, quarter to quarter, or year to year. If you are talking about property crime, I believe this graph really illustrates the decrease and the trend downwards in property crime since this government came to power in 2001.
There are quite a few elements to that decrease that has occurred. One of them is intelligence-led policing - and I believe someone alluded to that earlier. That is certainly a key for breaking the theft gangs that have operated within our community, breaking into houses and stealing and then pawning stolen items for cash or drugs. There have been a number of operations with time that have really targeted these people who are repeat offenders. As you read in the newspaper reports, substantial amounts of property are retrieved and the number of break-ins associated with these groups is substantial. However, it is a matter of vigilance.
The other issue that I would point to is that back in 2001 there were high levels of property crime associated with drugs, particularly opiate and prescription drugs, which the previous government had just let run rampant. In fact, there were drug gypsies, I would call them, from all over Australia who would come to the Northern Territory for an easy fix, and it was an easy fix under the previous government. Even in opposition, they still do not acknowledge the fact that there is this close link between drugs and crime. It is something that this government acknowledged and continues to acknowledge.
Ms Carney: You said it was domestic violence before. What is the line? We better have an even …
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: Yes, member for Araluen, there has been an increase in property crime year-on-year over the past 12 months - 20% is the figure that has been quoted. However, that is 20% in this fairly volatile but downward trending graph. That is very important to acknowledge.
At the Neighbourhood Watch conference a couple of weeks ago, the Police Commissioner referred to these crime statistics and said that police are continuing to be vigilant in their intelligence-led policing and are targeting those groups which are repeat offenders. He gave an undertaking then that there would be renewed effort to break these gangs and to keep this line trending downwards, as it has over the life of this government, both in the last Assembly and within this Assembly.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen for her question. As the member for Nhulunbuy said, what you need to do is have a look at the full picture, not necessarily a snapshot of month to month, quarter to quarter, or year to year. If you are talking about property crime, I believe this graph really illustrates the decrease and the trend downwards in property crime since this government came to power in 2001.
There are quite a few elements to that decrease that has occurred. One of them is intelligence-led policing - and I believe someone alluded to that earlier. That is certainly a key for breaking the theft gangs that have operated within our community, breaking into houses and stealing and then pawning stolen items for cash or drugs. There have been a number of operations with time that have really targeted these people who are repeat offenders. As you read in the newspaper reports, substantial amounts of property are retrieved and the number of break-ins associated with these groups is substantial. However, it is a matter of vigilance.
The other issue that I would point to is that back in 2001 there were high levels of property crime associated with drugs, particularly opiate and prescription drugs, which the previous government had just let run rampant. In fact, there were drug gypsies, I would call them, from all over Australia who would come to the Northern Territory for an easy fix, and it was an easy fix under the previous government. Even in opposition, they still do not acknowledge the fact that there is this close link between drugs and crime. It is something that this government acknowledged and continues to acknowledge.
Ms Carney: You said it was domestic violence before. What is the line? We better have an even …
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: Yes, member for Araluen, there has been an increase in property crime year-on-year over the past 12 months - 20% is the figure that has been quoted. However, that is 20% in this fairly volatile but downward trending graph. That is very important to acknowledge.
At the Neighbourhood Watch conference a couple of weeks ago, the Police Commissioner referred to these crime statistics and said that police are continuing to be vigilant in their intelligence-led policing and are targeting those groups which are repeat offenders. He gave an undertaking then that there would be renewed effort to break these gangs and to keep this line trending downwards, as it has over the life of this government, both in the last Assembly and within this Assembly.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016