Mr MITCHELL - 1995-05-17
It was reported recently in the NT News that, in relation to a domestic incident at Coconut Grove which resulted in the death of a man, it had taken some time for the police to respond. What was the response time in relation to that case?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is an important question because there has been considerable comment about the police force and the service it provides to our community. Much of the comment that has been broadcast and discussed has been incorrect and it creates a false impression in the mind of community about the effectiveness of the police force and certainly it does nothing to help the morale of those police who are providing an excellent service to the community.
When I delved into the article in the NT News and read the details given concerning the response time of the police in relation to the tragic incident that the member for Millner referred to, I was very disappointed. Obviously, I cannot comment on the case itself, but it is important that the public is not left with the impression that the police response to the incident was deficient in any way.
The NT News reported that the first report came to the police by telephone at 10.10 pm. In fact, it was after 11 pm when the first call was received. The initial report by the NT News about the first telephone call was some 50 minutes out. The NT News claimed in its article that the first call was at 10.10 pm, and that there was a second call from a member of the public at 10.25 pm - some 15 minutes later. The article stated that it was about 10 minutes after that when police first arrived. In other words, the article gave the impression that the time from the first call until police arrived was 25 minutes.
In fact, the response time has been reported to me by the police. The police have a device that records all incoming calls and the times at which they occur. It records the voice and the response. It also records the radio response which means that the vehicle's response and reactions are recorded. The total response time overall, from the first call to the arrival, was 8.05 minutes. The unit response time from when it was dispatched until it arrived at the scene was only 5.05 minutes. The first call was made at 11.12 pm and, 3 minutes later, at 11.15 pm, a vehicle was dispatched through the Police Communications Centre. At 11.16 pm, another call was received by police and the vehicle arrived at 11.20 pm. It is important that we understand that the response time was 5.05 minutes from when the police were directed. From the time of the initial phone call to the vehicle arriving was 8.05 minutes.
I challenge anybody to cite a capital city in Australia where police would be able to respond as quickly as that. It is an excellent response time. It is unfortunate that the article in the NT News leaves the public with the impression that the police are unable to respond to emergencies when, in fact, the response time in this instance was very good. It is wrong that we are left with that impression. I point out to the media that, if mistakes are made in this area, it is appropriate that that be drawn to the attention of the community. However, when the job is done well, it is equally important that the community is given that information
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because, unfortunately, we have had many instances of the opposition maligning the police and making claims that their response times ...
Mr Ede: Maligning you!
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: They certainly react. I do not think that one of their claims has proven to be correct. I do not like it and the community does not like it, but that is a fact of life. Nevertheless, it is necessary that people realise that we do have a very effective police force.
The recruitment under way to reach the increased levels approved by this government is going very strongly. There were 108 people recruited, and there is presently a recruit school in train. Another 50-odd are starting in 2 recruit schools at the beginning of July, and there is also a school of 26 auxiliaries. That rate of recruitment is continuing to reach the new approved level which is causing members opposite considerable distress because - shame on them - they thought that they could use the police to play politics as a means of trying to create fear in the minds of the community. That tactic is failing and people are looking at them with a fair degree of distrust.
The Leader of the Opposition has to realise that one of the reasons why he is sitting in opposition is because people do not have faith in him. They do not trust what he says, and the way he behaves with the police is indicative of the way he behaves right across the board. One of these days, obviously he will be replaced. I presume it will be by someone who will be able to build some trust with the community. I reiterate simply that the police response was excellent on this occasion, and I ask the media to give praise where it is due.
Page 535
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is an important question because there has been considerable comment about the police force and the service it provides to our community. Much of the comment that has been broadcast and discussed has been incorrect and it creates a false impression in the mind of community about the effectiveness of the police force and certainly it does nothing to help the morale of those police who are providing an excellent service to the community.
When I delved into the article in the NT News and read the details given concerning the response time of the police in relation to the tragic incident that the member for Millner referred to, I was very disappointed. Obviously, I cannot comment on the case itself, but it is important that the public is not left with the impression that the police response to the incident was deficient in any way.
The NT News reported that the first report came to the police by telephone at 10.10 pm. In fact, it was after 11 pm when the first call was received. The initial report by the NT News about the first telephone call was some 50 minutes out. The NT News claimed in its article that the first call was at 10.10 pm, and that there was a second call from a member of the public at 10.25 pm - some 15 minutes later. The article stated that it was about 10 minutes after that when police first arrived. In other words, the article gave the impression that the time from the first call until police arrived was 25 minutes.
In fact, the response time has been reported to me by the police. The police have a device that records all incoming calls and the times at which they occur. It records the voice and the response. It also records the radio response which means that the vehicle's response and reactions are recorded. The total response time overall, from the first call to the arrival, was 8.05 minutes. The unit response time from when it was dispatched until it arrived at the scene was only 5.05 minutes. The first call was made at 11.12 pm and, 3 minutes later, at 11.15 pm, a vehicle was dispatched through the Police Communications Centre. At 11.16 pm, another call was received by police and the vehicle arrived at 11.20 pm. It is important that we understand that the response time was 5.05 minutes from when the police were directed. From the time of the initial phone call to the vehicle arriving was 8.05 minutes.
I challenge anybody to cite a capital city in Australia where police would be able to respond as quickly as that. It is an excellent response time. It is unfortunate that the article in the NT News leaves the public with the impression that the police are unable to respond to emergencies when, in fact, the response time in this instance was very good. It is wrong that we are left with that impression. I point out to the media that, if mistakes are made in this area, it is appropriate that that be drawn to the attention of the community. However, when the job is done well, it is equally important that the community is given that information
Page 534
because, unfortunately, we have had many instances of the opposition maligning the police and making claims that their response times ...
Mr Ede: Maligning you!
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: They certainly react. I do not think that one of their claims has proven to be correct. I do not like it and the community does not like it, but that is a fact of life. Nevertheless, it is necessary that people realise that we do have a very effective police force.
The recruitment under way to reach the increased levels approved by this government is going very strongly. There were 108 people recruited, and there is presently a recruit school in train. Another 50-odd are starting in 2 recruit schools at the beginning of July, and there is also a school of 26 auxiliaries. That rate of recruitment is continuing to reach the new approved level which is causing members opposite considerable distress because - shame on them - they thought that they could use the police to play politics as a means of trying to create fear in the minds of the community. That tactic is failing and people are looking at them with a fair degree of distrust.
The Leader of the Opposition has to realise that one of the reasons why he is sitting in opposition is because people do not have faith in him. They do not trust what he says, and the way he behaves with the police is indicative of the way he behaves right across the board. One of these days, obviously he will be replaced. I presume it will be by someone who will be able to build some trust with the community. I reiterate simply that the police response was excellent on this occasion, and I ask the media to give praise where it is due.
Page 535
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016