Police staffing and statistics
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WRITTEN QUESTIONS
11th Assembly
19/11/2008
38. Police staffing and statistics
Mr Mills to MINISTER for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
QUESTION
Police Attrition Rates
1. The 2007/08 Annual Report recorded the police attrition rate as 9.28% not including dismissals, retirement or deaths. What is the attrition rate if separation due to dismissals, retirement and death are included.
2. What was the reason that there were 6739 less police hours recorded under the road safety output group in the 2007/08 year than originally estimated.
As of 14 Nov 2008 please provide a complete list of:
1. What was the NT Police establishment (FTE) broken down by rank, command, division and section for the whole of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services.
2. Personnel actually committed to those positions by rank and gender and actual location.
3. The number of positions that are vacant and length of time those positions have been vacant.
4. How many vacancies there are within the NT Police Force.
5. The location of those vacancies, what position each of those vacancies are, and how long each position has been vacant.
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many police officers (not including those who were dismissed, retired, died or were recruits) left the police force. Would you please break this down under the following categories - fully sworn officer, commissioned officer, auxiliary officer, ACPO.
2. For each of the above categories would you please break them down by rank, gender, position assigned to at time of separation, average length of time in the service and top 5 reasons for separation.
3. How many police officers left the police force due to dismissal, retirement or death.
4. For each category above (3) please break down by rank, gender, position assigned to at time of separation, average length of time in the service and top 5 reasons for separation.
5. How many recruits began recruit training, and please categorise by gender.
6. How many recruits did not complete the recruit training course. Please list these for each recruit intake and by gender.
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many NT police officers have been seconded to the Emergency Response. Where were those police officers drawn from and what was their primary role prior to becoming part of the Emergency Response
2. How many NT police officers have been seconded to the AFP? Where were those police officers drawn from and what was their primary role prior to becoming part of the AFP?
3. How many AFP officers have been seconded to the NT Police Force.
4. How many sick leave days were taken by NT Police officers.
5. What was the total amount of compensation paid to NT police officers. Please categorise by psychological, physical or psychological and physical category or other.
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many hours of interpreter services were used. Please categorise by region and language.
Discipline Matters
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many members of the police force have been under internal investigation.
2. How many members of the NT Police Force have been suspended for disciplinary reasons.
3. How many members were dismissed from the service due to disciplinary reasons. Please itemise and categorise these cases.
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many breath testing stations operated in the NT. Please include details of location, hours of operation, number of police officers involved, number of drivers tested, number of drivers recording low BAC readings, number of drivers recording mid BAC readings, number of drivers recording high range readings, number of drivers who recorded positive readings and were driving under a zero blood alcohol conditions, number of drivers who refused to provide a breath sample and number of drivers who failed to submit to a blood test.
2. How many RBTs were conducted as part of an officers routine duties. Please include details of location, number of drivers recording low BAC readings, number of drivers recording mid BAC readings, number of drivers recording high range readings, number of drivers who recorded positive readings and were driving under a zero blood alcohol conditions, number of drivers who refused to provide a breath sample and number of drivers who failed to submit to a blood test.
3. What is the servicing schedule to ensure the accuracy of the Drager Alcotest 7110.
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many fatalities have had drugs other than alcohol as a contributing factor. What drugs were involved in each accident.
2. How many serious accidents have had drugs other than alcohol as a contributing factor. What drugs were involved in each accident.
3. How many drivers have been tested under the ‘drug driving laws’ since they were introduced? Detail the location, type of test (blood or saliva) and time of day each of those drivers were tested and if they were tested for drugs as a result of an accident.
4. How many of the drivers tested under the ‘drug driving laws’ tested positive. How many of those that tested positive were convicted as a result of those tests. In each instance of a positive test what drugs were identified.
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many accidents (non fatal) were contributed in part or whole to alcohol.
2. Please list all those accidents by actual location, time of day, day of the week and list all contributing factors for each accident.
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. What were the locations and hours of operation for each speed camera throughout the Territory.
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many drivers have been issued infringement notices for driving without a seatbelt.
2. How many drivers have been issued infringement notices for driving while talking on a mobile phone.
3. How many traffic infringement notices were issued for each of those cameras.
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. List the number of people taken into protective custody for each police station within the Territory.
2. List the dates, locations, hours of operation and events that have required the use of police horses.
3. List the dates, locations, hours of operation and events that have required the use of police dogs.
ANSWER
Answered on 02/10/2009
All Outputs
HR
1. The 2007/08 Annual Report recorded the police attrition rate as 9.28% not including dismissals, retirement or deaths. What is the attrition rate if separation due to dismissals, retirement and death are included.
Response:
Year to date separation rate figures inclusive of Retirements, Dismissals and Deaths:
Figures exclusive of Retirements, Dismissals and Deaths:
* ‘Constables and above’ excludes Recruit Constables.
Refer All Outputs Item O.1 Establishment and Staffing, pages 3-4
Output Group 3
Operations
2. What was the reason that there were 6739 less police hours recorded under the road safety output group in the 2007/08 year than originally estimated.
Response:
The measure of officer hours estimates the hours that frontline staff are available to provide a service. A frontline staff member is any operational officer who delivers a service directly to an external customer.
The forecasting method for the quantity performance indicator of frontline hours involves the estimation of the number of frontline staff applied to each task within the output framework and is calculated by means of an activity survey. Estimation is difficult as frontline hours are influenced by factors such as training and leave, and unforeseen events
The methodology used to calculate actual frontline hours worked was to take a sample day per month of activity by operational staff, extrapolate the hours worked on those days for the quarter and then distribute those hours across the outputs using the results of the activity survey. This methodology provides a snapshot of average activity but will not necessarily reflect actual resources devoted to a specific incident output over the entire reporting period.
All Outputs
HR
1. What was the NT Police establishment (FTE) broken down by rank, command, division and section for the whole of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services.
Response:
The NT Police establishment at 31 May 2009 is 1227. Positions are:
Constables and above 996
ACPO 84
Police Auxiliaries 147.
The actual number of NT Police deployed against the establishment of 1227 is 1304, exclusive of unpaid inoperatives. This includes:
Constables recruits 48
31 paid inoperatives
2 long term maternity leave
3 long service leave pending retirement
2 workers compensation
14 long term sick
7 long term recreation and long service leave,
2 suspended and
1 other.
Refer All Outputs Item O.1 Establishment and Staffing - Attachment B. Establishment and Actual
All Outputs
HR
2. Personnel actually committed to those positions by rank and gender and actual location.
Response:
Breakdown of actual members by rank, command, division and section and gender is attached.
All Outputs
HR
3. The number of positions that are vacant and length of time those positions have been vacant.
4. How many vacancies there are within the NT Police Force.
5. The location of those vacancies, what position each of those vacancies are, and how long each position has been vacant.
Response:
Up to and including the Police Gazette 11 of 2009 dated 28 May, there were 72 positions in various stages of the selection process:
64 established positions
8 AFP Commonwealth funded vacancies.
HR
1. How many police officers (not including those who were dismissed, retired, died or were recruits) left the police force. Would you please break this down under the following categories - fully sworn officer, commissioned officer, auxiliary officer, ACPO.
2. For each of the above categories would you please break them down by rank, gender, position assigned to at time of separation, average length of time in the service and top 5 reasons for separation.
3. How many police officers left the police force due to dismissal, retirement or death.
Response:
Between 1 July 2008 and 31 May 2009:
93 Police Officers left (including those who were dismissed, retired, died or were recruits)
70 Police Officers left (excluding those who were dismissed, retired, died or were recruits), as follows:
35 Constables and above (1 S/S, 5 Sgt, 2 SC1C, 15 S/C, 4 C1C, 8C)
6 recruit Constables
6 ACPOs
19 Police Auxiliaries
4 Recruit Auxiliaries.
23 Police Officers left due to retirements (18), dismissals (5) or deaths (0).
Exit Questionnaire completion is voluntary. Individuals leave for a combination of factors. The top 5 reasons are as follows:
1. Spend more time with family
2. Career change
3. Locality
4. Take up duties with other policing jurisdictions
5. Lack of family support in the NT
All Outputs
HR
4. For each category above (3) please break down by rank, gender, position assigned to at time of separation, average length of time in the service and top 5 reasons for separation.
Response:
To provide details of actual and nominal positions held by members prior to separation will require analysis of each separation. That is, the information is not readily available.
All Outputs
HR
5. How many recruits began recruit training, and please categorise by gender.
Response:
From 1 July 2008 to 31 May 2009, 261 police recruits were undergoing training.
All Outputs
HR
6. How many recruits did not complete the recruit training course. Please list these for each recruit intake and by gender.
Response:
10 Constables recruits did not complete the course per squad are as follows:
3 Police Auxiliaries did not complete their course.
All ACPO’s completed their course.
Output Group 1
Operations
1. How many NT police officers have been seconded to the Emergency Response. Where were those police officers drawn from and what was their primary role prior to becoming part of the Emergency Response.
Response:
In total, 18 new positions were funded and created to provide an NT Police OIC at each Themis Station. 2 retired NT Police members have been employed and 1 member brought back from extended leave without pay to manage the Themis Task Force operation.
These remote policing opportunities are offered to members from:
Crime & Specialist Support Command (Specialist Section);
Darwin Operational Support Division (General Duties);
Katherine Operational Support Division (General Duties); and
Alice Springs and Southern Operational Support Division (General Duties).
Output Group 1
HR
2. How many NT police officers have been seconded to the AFP? Where were those police officers drawn from and what was their primary role prior to becoming part of the AFP?
Response:
As at 31 May 2009, NT Police had supplied 30 Police Officers to the AFP as part of Aviation Security. These Police are funded by AFP, and not included in the Establishment. Since 1 July 2008, 9 Police Officers have been gazetted to the AFP. 8 of these members were from Operations Service and 1 from Crime and Support. There are currently 8 vacancies.
Output Group 1
Operations
3. How many AFP officers have been seconded to the NT Police Force.
Response:
159 AFP officers have been seconded on rotation to the NT Police Force to date.
All Outputs
HR
4. How many sick leave days were taken by NT Police officers.
Response:
From 1 July 2008 to 31 May 2009, sick leave taken by NT Police members (inclusive of paid and unpaid inoperatives, ACPO’s and Police Auxiliaries) was 13131.27 days. This is an average of 1193 days per month or less than one day per month per police member.
NT Police currently benchmark with Australasian Police a range of organisational and individual occupational health and safety measures including sick leave, physical and psychological injury.
While NT Police has a lower than the national policing average rate of incidents reported, there is a higher than average strain/sprain rate. This is due to a small number of complex fractures which has also results in a slightly higher than average lost time rate. The psychological injury rate for NT Police is lower than the national police average.
All Outputs
HR
5. What was the total amount of compensation paid to NT police officers. Please categorise by psychological, physical or psychological and physical category or other.
Response:
Between 1 July 2008 and 31 May 2009, 192 serving Police members were paid weekly benefits totalling $563, 460.85. Currently there are 192 workers’ compensation claims by serving police members. The breakdown of these 192 claims are:
15 psychological ($281 639.23)
169 physical ($281,821.62)
8 biohazard ($0.00).
While NT Police has a lower than policing average rate of incidents reported, there is a higher than average strain/sprain rate. This is due to a small number of complex fractures which has also given a slightly higher than average lost time rate. The psychological injury rate for NT Police is lower than the national average.
All Outputs
Crime
1. How many hours of interpreter services were used. Please categorise by region and language.
Response:
The Northern Territory Police Force uses interpreters from various sources, including the Aboriginal Interpreter Services (AIS), the Interpreting and Translating Service (ITS), and members of the general community, to assist during interviews with victims, witnesses and offenders.
The figures set out below were provided by the Department of Local Government and Housing in relation to interpreting provided by AIS and ITS.
As often as not NT Police use interpreters from other sources, for instance by using a friend or support person to provide interpreting assistance for a victim or witness whilst they make a statement.
EPSC
1. How many members of the police force have been under internal investigation.
Response:
52 members of the Northern Territory Police have been subject to internal investigation since 1 July 2008. Action was not taken against all of the members and some matters remain under investigation.
2. How many members of the NT Police Force have been suspended for disciplinary reasons.
Response:
3 members of the Northern Territory Police have been suspended for disciplinary matters since 1 July 2008.
3. How many members were dismissed from the service due to disciplinary reasons. Please itemise and categorise these cases.
Response:
1 member of the Northern Territory Police was dismissed for disciplinary reasons.
Output Group 3
Strategic Planning Command
1. How many breath testing stations operated in the NT. Please include details of location, hours of operation, number of police officers involved, number of drivers tested, number of drivers recording low BAC readings, number of drivers recording mid BAC readings, number of drivers recording high range readings, number of drivers who recorded positive readings and were driving under a zero blood alcohol conditions, number of drivers who refused to provide a breath sample and number of drivers who failed to submit to a blood test.
Response:
All Northern Territory Police Force operational members conduct breath testing of road users as part of their core policing responsibilities. Directions to breath test all drivers apprehended and spoken to were issued. Members from all Commands conduct small and large RBT Stations during their shift where practical in an endeavour to raise awareness in road users and to remove drink drivers from the road.
A cyclical calendar of RBT Stations to be conducted weekly in the Greater Darwin area was produced. The other Regional Centres and Stations have also implemented their RBT Station initiatives and programs. These high profile RBT Stations are to raise awareness with all road users and are supplemented by smaller and more frequent RBT Stations.
A total of 113,309 Roadside Breath Tests were conducted throughout the NT during 1 July 2008 and 31 May 2009 compared to 92,690 for same period in 07/08 representing a 22.2% increase. These tests were carried out at random traffic apprehensions and dedicated roadside RBT Stations.
Breath Test Readings
Of the 113,309 persons breath tested between 1 July 2008 and 31 May 2009, 84.3% recorded a 0 reading.
Offences – Fail / Refuse
Output Group 3
Operations
3. What is the servicing schedule to ensure the accuracy of the Drager Alcotest 7110.
Response:
Every 6 months to the Australian Standard as required by National Measurement Institute (NMI).
Operations
1. How many fatalities have had drugs other than alcohol as a contributing factor. What drugs were involved in each accident.
Response:
6 fatal crashes (7 fatalities) had drugs (Cannabinoids) as a contributor factor.
1 fatal crash (1 fatality) had the following drugs as a contributor factor
2.1mg methylenedioxymethamphetamine per L. (MDMA, Ecstasy)
0.5mg amphetamine per L.
0.19mg methylenedioxyamphetamine per L. (MDA)
Output Group 3
2. How many serious accidents have had drugs other than alcohol as a contributing factor. What drugs were involved in each accident.
Output Group 3
Crime/SPC
3. How many drivers have been tested under the ‘drug driving laws’ since they were introduced? Detail the location, type of test (blood or saliva) and time of day each of those drivers were tested and if they were tested for drugs as a result of an accident.
Response:
In respect of Police initiated samples, up to 14 May 2009, of suspected drivers and drivers reasonably suspected of having prohibited drugs in their systems a total of 31 samples have been collected.
3 positive for drugs (MDMA, THC, Methadone)
3 positive for drugs and alcohol (Meth, THC, Meth)
16 positive for alcohol
5 negative for either
4 were yet to be analysed
Of the 18 offences, 7 were a result of a motor vehicle crash.
Output Group 3
Crime
4. How many of the drivers tested under the ‘drug driving laws’ tested positive. How many of those that tested positive were convicted as a result of those tests. In each instance of a positive test what drugs were identified.
Response:
NT Police does not currently collect statistics relating to the number of convictions attributed to positive drug tests.
Output Group 3
Operations
1. How many accidents (non fatal) were contributed in part or whole to alcohol.
Response:
There were 125 non-fatal alcohol related crashes.
Please note that the crash records of Police have been sent to DPI electronically since December 2008. As the validation of data is done manually by DPI at the moment, the process is slow and it is estimated that the Vehicle Accident Database (VADB) contained only 30% of non-fatal crash data as from January 2009. Also, there are crashes still under investigations and waiting for toxicology results.
2. Please list all those accidents by actual location, time of day, day of the week and list all contributing factors for each accident.
Response:
This information is impractical to provide as the list would contain at least 125 pages.
Operations
1. What were the locations and hours of operation for each speed camera throughout the Territory.
Response:
The Northern Territory Police Force has three mobile speed camera vans, two stationed in Darwin and one in Alice Springs. The vans are utilised in any location that meets the criteria for establishment which includes set distance from speed zone changes, line of sight distance and obstruction free locations. These parameters ensure natural justice to all road users and reduced contested matters.
Currently there are approximately 2,000 sites that have been used as speed camera van sites to set up and operate over the past 11 months.
Regional and local intelligence is utilised in the decision making process for site selection, further criteria are traffic flow densities, seasonal impact, school times and targeted hotspots where known offenders are recorded for time of day, day of the week and specific events occurring such as the V8’s, Regional rodeos, sports days, Hidden Valley drag meets etc.
A balance is used between targeting offenders and high profile positioning for awareness impact on road users. Hours of operation vary dependant on staff rostering, weather conditions, vehicle and equipment repairs, calibration and servicing.
Data is not collected in respect of specific van or camera workload.
Output Group 3
Operations
1. How many drivers have been issued infringement notices for driving without a seatbelt.
Response:
It should be noted there has been a significant decrease in the past several months across the board for detections of fail to wear seatbelts. This may be attributed to the increased enforcement through Operation ‘RAID’, the Christmas Traffic Campaign, the ‘Back to School’ Campaign and DPI’s Seatbelt media campaign. In comparison to the previous year there has been an overall increase in detection through increased enforcement.
For the period 1 July to 30 April 2009 a total of 2,894 infringements have been issued. A similar, but not same, period for previous year is also shown for reference.
Output Group 3
Operations
2. How many drivers have been issued infringement notices for driving while talking on a mobile phone.
A change to the penalty and to the focus of traffic policing has changed this and more attention is concentrated on policing this breach of the rules of the road.
In the 2008/09 period, a total of 856 infringements were issued for using hand held mobile phones. This represents an increase of 92.4% from the previous financial year.
Infringement Breakdown
Drive while using hand held mobile phone
Drive while using mobile phone (learner/provisional driver)
3. How many traffic infringement notices were issued for each of those cameras.
Response:
Individual records for each camera are not collated. This is due to cameras being taken off line periodically for service and maintenance. Infringements are recorded by session, not against a specific camera.
Speed Camera Infringements Issued
The breakdown of all speeding offences inclusive of speed camera and manually issued infringements is set out below:
Output Group 1
Strategic Planning Command
1. List the number of people taken into protective custody for each police station within the Territory.
Response:
The Northern Territory Police Social Order Crime Reduction Strategy was implemented in 2007. A key focus of this strategy is to address social order issues assertively and with a sense of urgency and consistency. Alcohol misuse is a major factor underpinning social order issues in the Northern Territory. Reports to Police of disorderly and offensive behaviour are received from members of the public as well as being detected through active policing and patrolling of hot spots.
Persons located in public places, trespassing on private property or within Prescribed Areas (under the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 - Commonwealth) who are intoxicated (seriously affected by alcohol or drugs) can be apprehended and detained. Options for safe custody of the intoxicated person include at a house where a responsible adult can provide care, a sobering up shelter or a Police Watch House.
In the period 1 July 2008 to 31 May 2009 32,678 persons were detained in Police facilities. This compares with 27,201 persons for the comparative period in the previous year. This equates to an increase of 20.1%.
Watchhouse Intakes – Protective Custody
Output Group 1
Crime
2. List the dates, locations, hours of operation and events that have required the use of police horses.
Response:
Mounted Police Unit - Darwin
The Mounted Police Unit (MPU) has 3 members and 6 horses used for Mounted Police operations.
At least half of the MPU time is devoted to mounted patrols with the rest of the time allocated to upkeep of the Mounted Police complex at the Peter McAulay Centre, administration duties and training.
Regular patrols are conducted around the Darwin area and surrounding suburbs around known locations of anti-social behaviour. MPU are frequently asked to assist with large events in the Northern region. Most shifts are 8 hours depending on patrol requirements.
MPU attempt to travel regularly to Katherine to conduct patrols to assist in enforcing the Liquor restricted area laws. Deployments to Katherine are done depending on staff levels and patrol requirements within the Darwin region. Katherine Police station will generally provide a member to assist with mounted patrols.
The number of patrols in the past 12 months is 45, including:
Katherine 3
Oenpelli 1
Jabiru 1
Adelaide River 1
Specific Operations/Events attended by the Darwin Mounted Police Unit include:
02/06/08 Search for Missing person – Casuarina, RDH area. 4hrs on patrol.
06/06/08 Attended Bakewell primary for education program. 2hrs.
07/06/08 Barunga festival. 5hrs on patrol.
08/06/08 Adelaide River rodeo. 4 hrs on patrol.
28/06/08 AFL- Marrara Stadium. 5 hrs on patrol.
06/07/08 V8’s – Hidden Valley race track. 5 hrs on patrol.
25/07/08- 26/07/08 Darwin show. 2x5 hrs on patrol.
31/07/09 Kormilda College- Educational program. 2hrs.
22/08/09-23/08/09 Oenpelli festival. 2x5 hrs on patrol.
13/09/08-14/09/08 Jabiru festival. 5 hrs on patrol.
29/08/08 Lyons opening. 5 hrs on patrol.
29/09/08 Remembrance day parade. 3hrs.
03/10/08 Search for missing person- pine forest, Howard Springs. 1hr search.
04/10/08 World Animal Day - Robbie Robbins Reserve. 5hrs.
30/10/08 Mindil Beach Markets- Closing. 5hrs.
10/12/08 Search for possible murder weapon - Wulagi area. 5hrs.
11/12/08 PR event - Horse soccer. 3hrs.
31/12/08-01/01/09 New Years Eve - Darwin city. 7hrs on patrol.
07/02/09 AFL - Marrara Stadium. 5 hrs on patrol.
13/02/09 AFL - Marrara Stadium. 5 hrs on patrol.
21/02/09 NTRL - Richardson Park. 5 hrs on patrol.
21/03/09 AFL - Marrara Stadium. 5 hrs on patrol.
04/04/09 Pure Sounds in the park. 5 hrs on patrol.
23/04/09- 26/04/09 ANZAC day parade Katherine/patrols. 2x5 hrs on patrol.
09/05/09 Arafura opening ceremony. 5 hrs on patrol.
17/05/09 Arafura closing ceremony. 5 hrs on patrol.
16/05/09-17/05/09 Freds Pass show. 2x5 hrs on patrol.
23/05/09 Bass in the grass. 5 hrs on patrol.
Output Group 1
Crime
3. List the dates, locations, hours of operation and events that have required the use of police dogs.
Response:
Dog Unit
The Darwin Dog Unit (DOU) has 3 members and 7 dogs. The 3 handlers dual handle a Drug Detector Dog and a General Purpose Police Dog. There is also a German Shepherd recruit dog.
The DOU members also assist the Drug Enforcement Unit, Command Tactical Teams and General Duties with the execution of search warrants.
Operational duties and training for both the Drug Detector Dogs and the General Purpose Dogs take up most of the DOU time. Training is also organised and conducted for the Katherine DOU and the Alice Springs DOU.
The DOU also provides a General Purpose Dog capability to assist with general Policing Territory wide and also provide another tactical option for the Territory Response Section.
The General Purpose Dogs were introduced in December 2008.
1 x DOU member attended Canberra for a 14 week Drug Detector Dog course with Customs during this period.
The Darwin DOU has deployed outside of Darwin on 31 occasions covering the following locations.
Adelaide River 14
Daly River 3
Port Keats 1
Katherine 4
Jabiru 3
Nhulunbuy 1
Groote Eylandt 2
Alice Springs 2
Tiwi Islands 1
17 September 2008 – 18 September 2008 – Groote Eylandt operation (2 x 8 hrs).
22 October 2008 – 23 October 2008 – Jabiru (2 x 8 hrs).
01 November 2008 – 03 November 2008 – Tiwi Islands deployment (3 x 8 hrs).
28 November 2008 – 29 November 2008 – Port Keats deployment with RCDD (2 x 8 hrs).
08 December 2008 – 12 December 2008 – Sydney – Conference held by the NSW Police Dog Squad (5 x 8 hrs).
New Years Eve operation (1 x 10 hrs).
04 February 2009 – 09 February 2009 – Alice Springs deployment General Purpose Dogs (5 x 8 hrs).
26 February 2009 – 28 February 2009 – Operation Cadence – NAB AFL match – General Purpose dog (3 x 8 hrs).
07 May 2009 – 08 May 2009 – Jabiru deployment (2 x 8 hrs).
20 May 2009 – 23 May 2009 – Groote Eylandt deployment with the Territory Response Section – General Purpose dogs (3 x 8 hrs).
27 May 2009 – 28 May 2009 – Adelaide River / Daly River road block with RCDD.
Major Crash Investigation Section and Traffic Enforcement - Recent Media
Current Established Numbers
Southern Traffic Operations (STO) 1 Sergeant and 9 Constables (ref PIPS)
Central Traffic Operations (CTO) 4 Constables
Northern Traffic Operations (NTO) 1 Sergeant and 11 Constables (which comprises 6 original Accident Investigation Unit members + 1 Sergeant and 5 Constables committed as part of the O'Sullivan Review implementation).
Proposed under new Structure
STO and CTO - No change.
NTO - 1 Sergeant and 11 Constables - rename Greater Darwin Region Command Traffic Enforcement and comprise 1 Sergeant + 8 Constables.
Major Crash Investigation Section - Major Crime Division
New Section with a new Senior Sergeant position and:
Darwin Major Crash Investigation Unit 1 Sergeant + 4 Constables;
Alice Springs Major Crash Investigation Unit 1 Sergeant + 2 Constables;
Crash Reconstruction Unit 1 Sergeant, and
Mechanical Examination Unit Technical position (to be JESed)
Over 2 years with plan to increase Darwin to 6 Constables and Alice Springs to 3 Constables.
WRITTEN QUESTIONS
11th Assembly
19/11/2008
38. Police staffing and statistics
Mr Mills to MINISTER for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
QUESTION
Police Attrition Rates
1. The 2007/08 Annual Report recorded the police attrition rate as 9.28% not including dismissals, retirement or deaths. What is the attrition rate if separation due to dismissals, retirement and death are included.
2. What was the reason that there were 6739 less police hours recorded under the road safety output group in the 2007/08 year than originally estimated.
NT Police (FTE) Establishments
As of 14 Nov 2008 please provide a complete list of:
1. What was the NT Police establishment (FTE) broken down by rank, command, division and section for the whole of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services.
2. Personnel actually committed to those positions by rank and gender and actual location.
3. The number of positions that are vacant and length of time those positions have been vacant.
4. How many vacancies there are within the NT Police Force.
5. The location of those vacancies, what position each of those vacancies are, and how long each position has been vacant.
NT Police Staffing
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many police officers (not including those who were dismissed, retired, died or were recruits) left the police force. Would you please break this down under the following categories - fully sworn officer, commissioned officer, auxiliary officer, ACPO.
2. For each of the above categories would you please break them down by rank, gender, position assigned to at time of separation, average length of time in the service and top 5 reasons for separation.
3. How many police officers left the police force due to dismissal, retirement or death.
4. For each category above (3) please break down by rank, gender, position assigned to at time of separation, average length of time in the service and top 5 reasons for separation.
5. How many recruits began recruit training, and please categorise by gender.
6. How many recruits did not complete the recruit training course. Please list these for each recruit intake and by gender.
Officer Secondments
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many NT police officers have been seconded to the Emergency Response. Where were those police officers drawn from and what was their primary role prior to becoming part of the Emergency Response
2. How many NT police officers have been seconded to the AFP? Where were those police officers drawn from and what was their primary role prior to becoming part of the AFP?
3. How many AFP officers have been seconded to the NT Police Force.
4. How many sick leave days were taken by NT Police officers.
5. What was the total amount of compensation paid to NT police officers. Please categorise by psychological, physical or psychological and physical category or other.
Interpreter Services
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many hours of interpreter services were used. Please categorise by region and language.
Discipline Matters
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many members of the police force have been under internal investigation.
2. How many members of the NT Police Force have been suspended for disciplinary reasons.
3. How many members were dismissed from the service due to disciplinary reasons. Please itemise and categorise these cases.
Drink Driving
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many breath testing stations operated in the NT. Please include details of location, hours of operation, number of police officers involved, number of drivers tested, number of drivers recording low BAC readings, number of drivers recording mid BAC readings, number of drivers recording high range readings, number of drivers who recorded positive readings and were driving under a zero blood alcohol conditions, number of drivers who refused to provide a breath sample and number of drivers who failed to submit to a blood test.
2. How many RBTs were conducted as part of an officers routine duties. Please include details of location, number of drivers recording low BAC readings, number of drivers recording mid BAC readings, number of drivers recording high range readings, number of drivers who recorded positive readings and were driving under a zero blood alcohol conditions, number of drivers who refused to provide a breath sample and number of drivers who failed to submit to a blood test.
3. What is the servicing schedule to ensure the accuracy of the Drager Alcotest 7110.
Drink and Drug Driving
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many fatalities have had drugs other than alcohol as a contributing factor. What drugs were involved in each accident.
2. How many serious accidents have had drugs other than alcohol as a contributing factor. What drugs were involved in each accident.
3. How many drivers have been tested under the ‘drug driving laws’ since they were introduced? Detail the location, type of test (blood or saliva) and time of day each of those drivers were tested and if they were tested for drugs as a result of an accident.
4. How many of the drivers tested under the ‘drug driving laws’ tested positive. How many of those that tested positive were convicted as a result of those tests. In each instance of a positive test what drugs were identified.
Traffic Accidents
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many accidents (non fatal) were contributed in part or whole to alcohol.
2. Please list all those accidents by actual location, time of day, day of the week and list all contributing factors for each accident.
Speeding
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. What were the locations and hours of operation for each speed camera throughout the Territory.
Traffic Infringements
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. How many drivers have been issued infringement notices for driving without a seatbelt.
2. How many drivers have been issued infringement notices for driving while talking on a mobile phone.
3. How many traffic infringement notices were issued for each of those cameras.
Protective Custody, Police Horses and Police Dogs
In the 12 months from November 2007:
1. List the number of people taken into protective custody for each police station within the Territory.
2. List the dates, locations, hours of operation and events that have required the use of police horses.
3. List the dates, locations, hours of operation and events that have required the use of police dogs.
___________________
__________ANSWER
Answered on 02/10/2009
36
Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services Response to
Written Question No. 38 from the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Terry Mills MLA - November 2008
Estimates Hearings 2008/09
For the period 1 July 2008 to 31 May 2009
(Operational statistics are provided as at 14 May 2009)
Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services Response to
Written Question No. 38 from the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Terry Mills MLA - November 2008
Estimates Hearings 2008/09
For the period 1 July 2008 to 31 May 2009
(Operational statistics are provided as at 14 May 2009)
Police Attrition Rates
All Outputs
HR
1. The 2007/08 Annual Report recorded the police attrition rate as 9.28% not including dismissals, retirement or deaths. What is the attrition rate if separation due to dismissals, retirement and death are included.
Response:
Year to date separation rate figures inclusive of Retirements, Dismissals and Deaths:
Date | Overall | Constables and above* | ACPO’s | Police Auxiliaries |
| 1 July 2009 - 31 May 09 | 7.19% | 4.91% | 11.11% | 18.34% |
Figures exclusive of Retirements, Dismissals and Deaths:
Date | Overall | Constables and above* | ACPO’s | Police Auxiliaries |
| 1 July 2009 - 31 May 09 | 5.42% | 3.52% | 7.45% | 15.65% |
* ‘Constables and above’ excludes Recruit Constables.
Refer All Outputs Item O.1 Establishment and Staffing, pages 3-4
Output Group 3
Operations
2. What was the reason that there were 6739 less police hours recorded under the road safety output group in the 2007/08 year than originally estimated.
Response:
The measure of officer hours estimates the hours that frontline staff are available to provide a service. A frontline staff member is any operational officer who delivers a service directly to an external customer.
The forecasting method for the quantity performance indicator of frontline hours involves the estimation of the number of frontline staff applied to each task within the output framework and is calculated by means of an activity survey. Estimation is difficult as frontline hours are influenced by factors such as training and leave, and unforeseen events
The methodology used to calculate actual frontline hours worked was to take a sample day per month of activity by operational staff, extrapolate the hours worked on those days for the quarter and then distribute those hours across the outputs using the results of the activity survey. This methodology provides a snapshot of average activity but will not necessarily reflect actual resources devoted to a specific incident output over the entire reporting period.
NT Police (FTE) Establishments
All Outputs
HR
1. What was the NT Police establishment (FTE) broken down by rank, command, division and section for the whole of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services.
Response:
The NT Police establishment at 31 May 2009 is 1227. Positions are:
Constables and above 996
ACPO 84
Police Auxiliaries 147.
The actual number of NT Police deployed against the establishment of 1227 is 1304, exclusive of unpaid inoperatives. This includes:
Constables recruits 48
31 paid inoperatives
2 long term maternity leave
3 long service leave pending retirement
2 workers compensation
14 long term sick
7 long term recreation and long service leave,
2 suspended and
1 other.
Refer All Outputs Item O.1 Establishment and Staffing - Attachment B. Establishment and Actual
All Outputs
HR
2. Personnel actually committed to those positions by rank and gender and actual location.
Response:
Breakdown of actual members by rank, command, division and section and gender is attached.
All Outputs
HR
3. The number of positions that are vacant and length of time those positions have been vacant.
4. How many vacancies there are within the NT Police Force.
5. The location of those vacancies, what position each of those vacancies are, and how long each position has been vacant.
Response:
Up to and including the Police Gazette 11 of 2009 dated 28 May, there were 72 positions in various stages of the selection process:
64 established positions
8 AFP Commonwealth funded vacancies.
NT Police Staffing
All OutputsHR
1. How many police officers (not including those who were dismissed, retired, died or were recruits) left the police force. Would you please break this down under the following categories - fully sworn officer, commissioned officer, auxiliary officer, ACPO.
2. For each of the above categories would you please break them down by rank, gender, position assigned to at time of separation, average length of time in the service and top 5 reasons for separation.
3. How many police officers left the police force due to dismissal, retirement or death.
Response:
Between 1 July 2008 and 31 May 2009:
93 Police Officers left (including those who were dismissed, retired, died or were recruits)
70 Police Officers left (excluding those who were dismissed, retired, died or were recruits), as follows:
35 Constables and above (1 S/S, 5 Sgt, 2 SC1C, 15 S/C, 4 C1C, 8C)
6 recruit Constables
6 ACPOs
19 Police Auxiliaries
4 Recruit Auxiliaries.
Rank | Gender | Total | Average Length of Service (years) |
 | Male | Female | |
| Constables and above | 28 | 7 | 358.9 |
| Recruit Constables | 4 | 2 | 60.2 |
| ACPOs | 5 | 1 | 64.7 |
| Police Auxiliaries | 5 | 14 | 194 |
| Recruit Auxiliaries | 1 | 3 | 40.1 |
| Total | 43 | 27 | 706 |
23 Police Officers left due to retirements (18), dismissals (5) or deaths (0).
Exit Questionnaire completion is voluntary. Individuals leave for a combination of factors. The top 5 reasons are as follows:
1. Spend more time with family
2. Career change
3. Locality
4. Take up duties with other policing jurisdictions
5. Lack of family support in the NT
All Outputs
HR
4. For each category above (3) please break down by rank, gender, position assigned to at time of separation, average length of time in the service and top 5 reasons for separation.
Response:
To provide details of actual and nominal positions held by members prior to separation will require analysis of each separation. That is, the information is not readily available.
All Outputs
HR
5. How many recruits began recruit training, and please categorise by gender.
Response:
From 1 July 2008 to 31 May 2009, 261 police recruits were undergoing training.
Recruit | Male | Female | Total |
| Police Officer | 172 | 31 | 203 |
| ACPO’s | 9 | 9 | 18 |
| Police Auxiliaries | 10 | 30 | 40 |
| Total | 191 | 70 | 261 |
All Outputs
HR
6. How many recruits did not complete the recruit training course. Please list these for each recruit intake and by gender.
Response:
10 Constables recruits did not complete the course per squad are as follows:
3 Police Auxiliaries did not complete their course.
All ACPO’s completed their course.
Officer Secondments
Output Group 1
Operations
1. How many NT police officers have been seconded to the Emergency Response. Where were those police officers drawn from and what was their primary role prior to becoming part of the Emergency Response.
Response:
In total, 18 new positions were funded and created to provide an NT Police OIC at each Themis Station. 2 retired NT Police members have been employed and 1 member brought back from extended leave without pay to manage the Themis Task Force operation.
These remote policing opportunities are offered to members from:
Crime & Specialist Support Command (Specialist Section);
Darwin Operational Support Division (General Duties);
Katherine Operational Support Division (General Duties); and
Alice Springs and Southern Operational Support Division (General Duties).
Output Group 1
HR
2. How many NT police officers have been seconded to the AFP? Where were those police officers drawn from and what was their primary role prior to becoming part of the AFP?
Response:
As at 31 May 2009, NT Police had supplied 30 Police Officers to the AFP as part of Aviation Security. These Police are funded by AFP, and not included in the Establishment. Since 1 July 2008, 9 Police Officers have been gazetted to the AFP. 8 of these members were from Operations Service and 1 from Crime and Support. There are currently 8 vacancies.
Output Group 1
Operations
3. How many AFP officers have been seconded to the NT Police Force.
Response:
159 AFP officers have been seconded on rotation to the NT Police Force to date.
All Outputs
HR
4. How many sick leave days were taken by NT Police officers.
Response:
From 1 July 2008 to 31 May 2009, sick leave taken by NT Police members (inclusive of paid and unpaid inoperatives, ACPO’s and Police Auxiliaries) was 13131.27 days. This is an average of 1193 days per month or less than one day per month per police member.
NT Police currently benchmark with Australasian Police a range of organisational and individual occupational health and safety measures including sick leave, physical and psychological injury.
While NT Police has a lower than the national policing average rate of incidents reported, there is a higher than average strain/sprain rate. This is due to a small number of complex fractures which has also results in a slightly higher than average lost time rate. The psychological injury rate for NT Police is lower than the national police average.
All Outputs
HR
5. What was the total amount of compensation paid to NT police officers. Please categorise by psychological, physical or psychological and physical category or other.
Response:
Between 1 July 2008 and 31 May 2009, 192 serving Police members were paid weekly benefits totalling $563, 460.85. Currently there are 192 workers’ compensation claims by serving police members. The breakdown of these 192 claims are:
15 psychological ($281 639.23)
169 physical ($281,821.62)
8 biohazard ($0.00).
While NT Police has a lower than policing average rate of incidents reported, there is a higher than average strain/sprain rate. This is due to a small number of complex fractures which has also given a slightly higher than average lost time rate. The psychological injury rate for NT Police is lower than the national average.
Interpreter Services
All Outputs
Crime
1. How many hours of interpreter services were used. Please categorise by region and language.
Response:
The Northern Territory Police Force uses interpreters from various sources, including the Aboriginal Interpreter Services (AIS), the Interpreting and Translating Service (ITS), and members of the general community, to assist during interviews with victims, witnesses and offenders.
The figures set out below were provided by the Department of Local Government and Housing in relation to interpreting provided by AIS and ITS.
As often as not NT Police use interpreters from other sources, for instance by using a friend or support person to provide interpreting assistance for a victim or witness whilst they make a statement.
Aboriginal Interpreter Service
Region | Jobs | Hours | Primary Languages |
Alice Springs | 64 | 101 | Pitjantjatjara, Luritja, Anmatyera, Arrernte (western, eastern & central), Warlpiri, Warumungu, Yankunytjatjara and Pintupi |
Arnhem | 78 | 221 | Yolngu languages (Djambarrpuyngu, Gumatj, Rirratjinu, Gupapuyngu), Burarra, Kunwinkju, Kriol, and Anindilyakwa. |
Darwin | 110 | 469 | Murrinh-Patha, Tiwi, Kriol, Djambarrpuyngu and Burarra. |
Katherine | 13 | 21 | Kriol, Warlpiri, Gurrindji and Jawoyn. |
TOTALS | 265 | 812 | |
Interpreting and Translating Service
Region | Jobs | Hours | Primary Languages |
Alice Springs | 29 | 49.75 | Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin, Persian, Spanish, Vietnamese. |
Darwin | 18 | 6.5 | French, German, Greek, Indonesian, Karen, Kirundi, Korean, Madi, Mandarin, Portuguese, Punjabi, Somalie, Sudanese Arabic, Tagalog, Tetum, Vietnamese. |
TOTALS | 47 | 56.25 | |
Discipline Matters
Output Group 2EPSC
1. How many members of the police force have been under internal investigation.
Response:
52 members of the Northern Territory Police have been subject to internal investigation since 1 July 2008. Action was not taken against all of the members and some matters remain under investigation.
2. How many members of the NT Police Force have been suspended for disciplinary reasons.
Response:
3 members of the Northern Territory Police have been suspended for disciplinary matters since 1 July 2008.
3. How many members were dismissed from the service due to disciplinary reasons. Please itemise and categorise these cases.
Response:
1 member of the Northern Territory Police was dismissed for disciplinary reasons.
Drink Driving
Output Group 3
Strategic Planning Command
1. How many breath testing stations operated in the NT. Please include details of location, hours of operation, number of police officers involved, number of drivers tested, number of drivers recording low BAC readings, number of drivers recording mid BAC readings, number of drivers recording high range readings, number of drivers who recorded positive readings and were driving under a zero blood alcohol conditions, number of drivers who refused to provide a breath sample and number of drivers who failed to submit to a blood test.
Response:
All Northern Territory Police Force operational members conduct breath testing of road users as part of their core policing responsibilities. Directions to breath test all drivers apprehended and spoken to were issued. Members from all Commands conduct small and large RBT Stations during their shift where practical in an endeavour to raise awareness in road users and to remove drink drivers from the road.
A cyclical calendar of RBT Stations to be conducted weekly in the Greater Darwin area was produced. The other Regional Centres and Stations have also implemented their RBT Station initiatives and programs. These high profile RBT Stations are to raise awareness with all road users and are supplemented by smaller and more frequent RBT Stations.
A total of 113,309 Roadside Breath Tests were conducted throughout the NT during 1 July 2008 and 31 May 2009 compared to 92,690 for same period in 07/08 representing a 22.2% increase. These tests were carried out at random traffic apprehensions and dedicated roadside RBT Stations.
Breath Test Readings
Of the 113,309 persons breath tested between 1 July 2008 and 31 May 2009, 84.3% recorded a 0 reading.
0 Reading | Exceed 0 Low Range | Exceed 0.05 Low Range | Exceed 0.08 Mid Range | Exceed 0.15 High Range | Total |
95514 | 8088 | 2696 | 4111 | 2900 | 113309 |
| Command | District | Total |
| Alice Springs & Southern | Ali Curung | 1199 |
| Alice Springs | 18739 | |
| Avon Downs | 2774 | |
| Elliott | 1023 | |
| Harts Range | 450 | |
| Kintore | 13 | |
| Kulgera | 133 | |
| Ntaria | 3323 | |
| Papunya | 151 | |
| Santa Teresa | 376 | |
| Tennant Creek | 5859 | |
| Ti Tree | 1238 | |
| Yuendumu | 374 | |
| Yulara | 527 | |
| Alice Springs & Southern | 36179 |
| Command | District | Total |
| Greater Darwin | Adelaide River | 3719 |
| Batchelor | 2228 | |
| Casuarina | 13694 | |
| Darwin | 11487 | |
| Humpty Doo | 2441 | |
| Nguiu | 110 | |
| Palmerston | 13916 | |
| Pirlangimpi | 124 | |
| Greater Darwin | 47719 |
| Command | District | Total |
| Katherine & Northern | Alyangula | 1454 |
| Borroloola | 1725 | |
| Daly River | 541 | |
| Gunbalanya | 601 | |
| Jabiru | 801 | |
| Kalkaringi | 683 | |
| Katherine | 11778 | |
| Lajamanu | 639 | |
| Maranboy | 1290 | |
| Mataranka | 1141 | |
| Ngukurr | 507 | |
| Nhulunbuy | 3477 | |
| Pine Creek | 2227 | |
| Timber Creek | 705 | |
| Wadeye | 561 | |
| Katherine & Northern | 28130 | |
| | |
| Miscellaneous | Themis | 1281 |
Offences – Fail / Refuse
| Offence | Total |
| Fail To Comply With Breath Test Request | 5 |
| Fail To Provide A Sample Of Blood | 4 |
| Fail To Provide Breath For Analysis | 126 |
| Fail To Supply Sufficient Sample | 3 |
| Refuse To Supply Breath - Analysis | 1 |
| Total | 139 |
Output Group 3
Operations
3. What is the servicing schedule to ensure the accuracy of the Drager Alcotest 7110.
Response:
Every 6 months to the Australian Standard as required by National Measurement Institute (NMI).
Drink and Drug Driving
Output Group 3Operations
1. How many fatalities have had drugs other than alcohol as a contributing factor. What drugs were involved in each accident.
Response:
6 fatal crashes (7 fatalities) had drugs (Cannabinoids) as a contributor factor.
1 fatal crash (1 fatality) had the following drugs as a contributor factor
2.1mg methylenedioxymethamphetamine per L. (MDMA, Ecstasy)
0.5mg amphetamine per L.
0.19mg methylenedioxyamphetamine per L. (MDA)
Output Group 3
2. How many serious accidents have had drugs other than alcohol as a contributing factor. What drugs were involved in each accident.
Output Group 3
Crime/SPC
3. How many drivers have been tested under the ‘drug driving laws’ since they were introduced? Detail the location, type of test (blood or saliva) and time of day each of those drivers were tested and if they were tested for drugs as a result of an accident.
Response:
In respect of Police initiated samples, up to 14 May 2009, of suspected drivers and drivers reasonably suspected of having prohibited drugs in their systems a total of 31 samples have been collected.
3 positive for drugs (MDMA, THC, Methadone)
3 positive for drugs and alcohol (Meth, THC, Meth)
16 positive for alcohol
5 negative for either
4 were yet to be analysed
Of the 18 offences, 7 were a result of a motor vehicle crash.
| Section | Offence | 08_09 | Total |
| | Adult | Juvenile |
| 28(1)(a) | Driver with Prohibited Drug in Blood | 5 | 5 |
| 29AAA(1)(a) | Driver Drive Under Influence of Drugs | 11 | 213 |
| Total | 6 | 218 |
Output Group 3
Crime
4. How many of the drivers tested under the ‘drug driving laws’ tested positive. How many of those that tested positive were convicted as a result of those tests. In each instance of a positive test what drugs were identified.
Response:
NT Police does not currently collect statistics relating to the number of convictions attributed to positive drug tests.
Traffic Accidents
Output Group 3
Operations
1. How many accidents (non fatal) were contributed in part or whole to alcohol.
Response:
There were 125 non-fatal alcohol related crashes.
Please note that the crash records of Police have been sent to DPI electronically since December 2008. As the validation of data is done manually by DPI at the moment, the process is slow and it is estimated that the Vehicle Accident Database (VADB) contained only 30% of non-fatal crash data as from January 2009. Also, there are crashes still under investigations and waiting for toxicology results.
2. Please list all those accidents by actual location, time of day, day of the week and list all contributing factors for each accident.
Response:
This information is impractical to provide as the list would contain at least 125 pages.
Speeding
Output Group 3Operations
1. What were the locations and hours of operation for each speed camera throughout the Territory.
Response:
The Northern Territory Police Force has three mobile speed camera vans, two stationed in Darwin and one in Alice Springs. The vans are utilised in any location that meets the criteria for establishment which includes set distance from speed zone changes, line of sight distance and obstruction free locations. These parameters ensure natural justice to all road users and reduced contested matters.
Currently there are approximately 2,000 sites that have been used as speed camera van sites to set up and operate over the past 11 months.
Regional and local intelligence is utilised in the decision making process for site selection, further criteria are traffic flow densities, seasonal impact, school times and targeted hotspots where known offenders are recorded for time of day, day of the week and specific events occurring such as the V8’s, Regional rodeos, sports days, Hidden Valley drag meets etc.
A balance is used between targeting offenders and high profile positioning for awareness impact on road users. Hours of operation vary dependant on staff rostering, weather conditions, vehicle and equipment repairs, calibration and servicing.
Data is not collected in respect of specific van or camera workload.
Traffic Infringements
Output Group 3
Operations
1. How many drivers have been issued infringement notices for driving without a seatbelt.
Response:
It should be noted there has been a significant decrease in the past several months across the board for detections of fail to wear seatbelts. This may be attributed to the increased enforcement through Operation ‘RAID’, the Christmas Traffic Campaign, the ‘Back to School’ Campaign and DPI’s Seatbelt media campaign. In comparison to the previous year there has been an overall increase in detection through increased enforcement.
For the period 1 July to 30 April 2009 a total of 2,894 infringements have been issued. A similar, but not same, period for previous year is also shown for reference.
| Driver Fails to Wear Seatbelt | Adult Passenger Fails to Wear Seat Belt | Driver Fails to Ensure Child or Young Person Wears Seat Belt/Restraint | TOTAL | |
Jul-2008 | 51 | 96 | 82 | 229 | |
Aug-2008 | 70 | 65 | 95 | 230 | |
Sep-2008 | 104 | 40 | 46 | 190 | |
Oct-2008 | 139 | 82 | 74 | 295 | |
Nov-2008 | 161 | 123 | 64 | 348 | |
Dec-2008 | 115 | 163 | 143 | 421 | |
Jan-2009 | 133 | 136 | 110 | 379 | |
Feb-2009 | 122 | 103 | 85 | 310 | |
Mar-2009 | 84 | 81 | 79 | 244 | |
Apr-2009 | 80 | 80 | 88 | 248 | |
| | | | | |
| TOTALS | 1059 | 969 | 866 | 2894 | |
| Note: If Infringement ticket contains multiple offences only the most serious offence is counted | | | | | |
| 1 July 2007 - 19 May 2008 | |
| Drivers Without Fastened Seat Belt | 852 |
| | |
| Passenger (adult) Failing to Wear Seat Belt | 745 |
| Passenger (U16) Seatbelt not Fastened | 642 |
| Drive - Child not Using Restraint | 2 |
| Unrestrained Child U16 Year Old in Front Seat | 1 |
| Drive - Child Under 12 Months not Restrained | 2 |
| Child 1 Year Old – 16 Year Old Seat Belt not Fastened | 324 |
| TOTAL | | 2,568 |
Output Group 3
Operations
2. How many drivers have been issued infringement notices for driving while talking on a mobile phone.
A change to the penalty and to the focus of traffic policing has changed this and more attention is concentrated on policing this breach of the rules of the road.
In the 2008/09 period, a total of 856 infringements were issued for using hand held mobile phones. This represents an increase of 92.4% from the previous financial year.
| Spotcode | 2007/08 | 2008/09 |
| Drive while using hand held mobile phone | 440 | 846 |
| Drive while using mobile phone (learner/provisional driver) | 5 | 10 |
| Grand Total | 445 | 856 |
Infringement Breakdown
Drive while using hand held mobile phone
| Command | 2007/08 | 2008/09 |
| Alice Springs & Southern | 73 | 62 |
| Greater Darwin | 335 | 753 |
| Katherine & Northern | 32 | 31 |
440 | 846 |
Drive while using mobile phone (learner/provisional driver)
| Command | 2007/08 | 2008/09 |
| Alice Springs & Southern | 3 | |
| Greater Darwin | 2 | 9 |
| Katherine & Northern | | 1 |
5 | 10 |
3. How many traffic infringement notices were issued for each of those cameras.
Response:
Individual records for each camera are not collated. This is due to cameras being taken off line periodically for service and maintenance. Infringements are recorded by session, not against a specific camera.
Speed Camera Infringements Issued
Year | No of Camera Checks | No of Camera Infringements Issued |
2003-04 | 978,661 | 20,932 |
2004-05 | 624,918 | 18,045 |
2005-06 | 804,914 | 25,019 |
2006-07 | 664,775 | 23,130 |
2007-08 | 896,165 | 14,971 |
2008-09 | 953,571 | 13,253 (as at 16/06/09) |
The breakdown of all speeding offences inclusive of speed camera and manually issued infringements is set out below:
| By up to 15km/h (0-15) | Over 15km/h to 30km/h (15-30) | Over 30km/h to 45km/h (31-45) | Over 45 km/h | TOTAL | |
| Jul-2008 | 2,254 | 653 | 65 | 16 | 2,988 | |
| Aug-2008 | 1,951 | 652 | 75 | 8 | 2,686 | |
| Sep-2008 | 2,445 | 781 | 67 | 3 | 3,296 | |
| Oct-2008 | 2,315 | 767 | 82 | 9 | 3,173 | |
| Nov-2008 | 1,816 | 776 | 72 | 10 | 2,674 | |
| Dec-2008 | 1,431 | 575 | 71 | 9 | 2,086 | |
| Jan-2009 | 2,315 | 775 | 70 | 8 | 3,168 | |
| Feb-2009 | 1,435 | 598 | 69 | 6 | 2,108 | |
| Mar-2009 | 2,167 | 627 | 62 | 11 | 2,867 | |
| Apr-2009 | 2,039 | 653 | 71 | 9 | 2,772 | |
| TOTAL | 20,168 | 6,857 | 704 | 89 | 27,818 | |
| | | | | | |
| Source: IJIS as at 13 May 2009 | | | | | | |
Protective Custody, Police Horses and Police Dogs
Output Group 1
Strategic Planning Command
1. List the number of people taken into protective custody for each police station within the Territory.
Response:
The Northern Territory Police Social Order Crime Reduction Strategy was implemented in 2007. A key focus of this strategy is to address social order issues assertively and with a sense of urgency and consistency. Alcohol misuse is a major factor underpinning social order issues in the Northern Territory. Reports to Police of disorderly and offensive behaviour are received from members of the public as well as being detected through active policing and patrolling of hot spots.
Persons located in public places, trespassing on private property or within Prescribed Areas (under the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 - Commonwealth) who are intoxicated (seriously affected by alcohol or drugs) can be apprehended and detained. Options for safe custody of the intoxicated person include at a house where a responsible adult can provide care, a sobering up shelter or a Police Watch House.
In the period 1 July 2008 to 31 May 2009 32,678 persons were detained in Police facilities. This compares with 27,201 persons for the comparative period in the previous year. This equates to an increase of 20.1%.
Watchhouse Intakes – Protective Custody
| Watchhouse | 07/08 | 08/09 |
| Adelaide River | 5 | 13 |
| Ali Curung | 18 | 22 |
| Alice Springs | 4076 | 7806 |
| Alpurrurulam | 1 | 45 |
| Alyangula | 5 | 10 |
| Arlparra | 0 | 38 |
| Batchelor | 8 | 22 |
| Borroloola | 23 | 17 |
| Daly River | 70 | 11 |
| Darwin | 10328 | 12246 |
| Elliott | 113 | 86 |
| Finke | 0 | 4 |
| Galiwinku | 5 | 16 |
| Gapuwiyak | 12 | 21 |
| Gunbalunya | 12 | 61 |
| Haasts Bluff | 0 | 14 |
| Harts Range | 1 | 2 |
| Imanpa | 0 | 17 |
| Jabiru | 26 | 42 |
| Kalkaringi | 6 | 15 |
| Katherine | 6300 | 7073 |
| Kintore | 2 | 7 |
| Kulgera | 12 | 3 |
| Lajamanu | 17 | 26 |
| Maningrida | 15 | 72 |
| Maranboy | 40 | 71 |
| Mataranka | 72 | 462 |
| Minyerri | 2 | 30 |
| Mutitjulu | 12 | 19 |
| Nguiu | 9 | 4 |
| Ngukurr | 23 | 49 |
| Nhulunbuy | 907 | 449 |
| Ntaria | 37 | 83 |
| Numbulwar | 6 | 4 |
| Papunya | 21 | 20 |
| Peppimenarti | 1 | 22 |
| Pine Creek | 2 | 6 |
| Pirlangimpi | 1 | 4 |
| Ramingining | 1 | 6 |
| Santa Teresa | 0 | 4 |
| Tennant Creek | 4798 | 3532 |
| Ti Tree | 33 | 37 |
| Timber Creek | 67 | 40 |
| Wadeye | 34 | 87 |
| Willowra | 0 | 6 |
| Yarralin | 2 | 7 |
| Yuendumu | 69 | 35 |
| Yulara | 5 | 6 |
Output Group 1
Crime
2. List the dates, locations, hours of operation and events that have required the use of police horses.
Response:
Mounted Police Unit - Darwin
The Mounted Police Unit (MPU) has 3 members and 6 horses used for Mounted Police operations.
At least half of the MPU time is devoted to mounted patrols with the rest of the time allocated to upkeep of the Mounted Police complex at the Peter McAulay Centre, administration duties and training.
Regular patrols are conducted around the Darwin area and surrounding suburbs around known locations of anti-social behaviour. MPU are frequently asked to assist with large events in the Northern region. Most shifts are 8 hours depending on patrol requirements.
MPU attempt to travel regularly to Katherine to conduct patrols to assist in enforcing the Liquor restricted area laws. Deployments to Katherine are done depending on staff levels and patrol requirements within the Darwin region. Katherine Police station will generally provide a member to assist with mounted patrols.
The number of patrols in the past 12 months is 45, including:
Katherine 3
Oenpelli 1
Jabiru 1
Adelaide River 1
Specific Operations/Events attended by the Darwin Mounted Police Unit include:
02/06/08 Search for Missing person – Casuarina, RDH area. 4hrs on patrol.
06/06/08 Attended Bakewell primary for education program. 2hrs.
07/06/08 Barunga festival. 5hrs on patrol.
08/06/08 Adelaide River rodeo. 4 hrs on patrol.
28/06/08 AFL- Marrara Stadium. 5 hrs on patrol.
06/07/08 V8’s – Hidden Valley race track. 5 hrs on patrol.
25/07/08- 26/07/08 Darwin show. 2x5 hrs on patrol.
31/07/09 Kormilda College- Educational program. 2hrs.
22/08/09-23/08/09 Oenpelli festival. 2x5 hrs on patrol.
13/09/08-14/09/08 Jabiru festival. 5 hrs on patrol.
29/08/08 Lyons opening. 5 hrs on patrol.
29/09/08 Remembrance day parade. 3hrs.
03/10/08 Search for missing person- pine forest, Howard Springs. 1hr search.
04/10/08 World Animal Day - Robbie Robbins Reserve. 5hrs.
30/10/08 Mindil Beach Markets- Closing. 5hrs.
10/12/08 Search for possible murder weapon - Wulagi area. 5hrs.
11/12/08 PR event - Horse soccer. 3hrs.
31/12/08-01/01/09 New Years Eve - Darwin city. 7hrs on patrol.
07/02/09 AFL - Marrara Stadium. 5 hrs on patrol.
13/02/09 AFL - Marrara Stadium. 5 hrs on patrol.
21/02/09 NTRL - Richardson Park. 5 hrs on patrol.
21/03/09 AFL - Marrara Stadium. 5 hrs on patrol.
04/04/09 Pure Sounds in the park. 5 hrs on patrol.
23/04/09- 26/04/09 ANZAC day parade Katherine/patrols. 2x5 hrs on patrol.
09/05/09 Arafura opening ceremony. 5 hrs on patrol.
17/05/09 Arafura closing ceremony. 5 hrs on patrol.
16/05/09-17/05/09 Freds Pass show. 2x5 hrs on patrol.
23/05/09 Bass in the grass. 5 hrs on patrol.
Output Group 1
Crime
3. List the dates, locations, hours of operation and events that have required the use of police dogs.
Response:
Dog Unit
The Darwin Dog Unit (DOU) has 3 members and 7 dogs. The 3 handlers dual handle a Drug Detector Dog and a General Purpose Police Dog. There is also a German Shepherd recruit dog.
The DOU members also assist the Drug Enforcement Unit, Command Tactical Teams and General Duties with the execution of search warrants.
Operational duties and training for both the Drug Detector Dogs and the General Purpose Dogs take up most of the DOU time. Training is also organised and conducted for the Katherine DOU and the Alice Springs DOU.
The DOU also provides a General Purpose Dog capability to assist with general Policing Territory wide and also provide another tactical option for the Territory Response Section.
The General Purpose Dogs were introduced in December 2008.
1 x DOU member attended Canberra for a 14 week Drug Detector Dog course with Customs during this period.
The Darwin DOU has deployed outside of Darwin on 31 occasions covering the following locations.
Adelaide River 14
Daly River 3
Port Keats 1
Katherine 4
Jabiru 3
Nhulunbuy 1
Groote Eylandt 2
Alice Springs 2
Tiwi Islands 1
17 September 2008 – 18 September 2008 – Groote Eylandt operation (2 x 8 hrs).
22 October 2008 – 23 October 2008 – Jabiru (2 x 8 hrs).
01 November 2008 – 03 November 2008 – Tiwi Islands deployment (3 x 8 hrs).
28 November 2008 – 29 November 2008 – Port Keats deployment with RCDD (2 x 8 hrs).
08 December 2008 – 12 December 2008 – Sydney – Conference held by the NSW Police Dog Squad (5 x 8 hrs).
New Years Eve operation (1 x 10 hrs).
04 February 2009 – 09 February 2009 – Alice Springs deployment General Purpose Dogs (5 x 8 hrs).
26 February 2009 – 28 February 2009 – Operation Cadence – NAB AFL match – General Purpose dog (3 x 8 hrs).
07 May 2009 – 08 May 2009 – Jabiru deployment (2 x 8 hrs).
20 May 2009 – 23 May 2009 – Groote Eylandt deployment with the Territory Response Section – General Purpose dogs (3 x 8 hrs).
27 May 2009 – 28 May 2009 – Adelaide River / Daly River road block with RCDD.
Major Crash Investigation Section and Traffic Enforcement - Recent Media
Current Established Numbers
Southern Traffic Operations (STO) 1 Sergeant and 9 Constables (ref PIPS)
Central Traffic Operations (CTO) 4 Constables
Northern Traffic Operations (NTO) 1 Sergeant and 11 Constables (which comprises 6 original Accident Investigation Unit members + 1 Sergeant and 5 Constables committed as part of the O'Sullivan Review implementation).
Proposed under new Structure
STO and CTO - No change.
NTO - 1 Sergeant and 11 Constables - rename Greater Darwin Region Command Traffic Enforcement and comprise 1 Sergeant + 8 Constables.
Major Crash Investigation Section - Major Crime Division
New Section with a new Senior Sergeant position and:
Darwin Major Crash Investigation Unit 1 Sergeant + 4 Constables;
Alice Springs Major Crash Investigation Unit 1 Sergeant + 2 Constables;
Crash Reconstruction Unit 1 Sergeant, and
Mechanical Examination Unit Technical position (to be JESed)
Over 2 years with plan to increase Darwin to 6 Constables and Alice Springs to 3 Constables.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016