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  4. 22 November 2002

Valedictory Speech

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SpeakersWhelan Mr Paul
BusinessMembers



    Mr WHELAN (Strathfield—Parliamentary Secretary) [11.35 a.m.]: The last contribution showed how friendly the Legislative Assembly can be. Someone asked me this morning what it is like leaving Parliament and I replied that it is a bit like leaving school. One of the differences is that school leavers have 40 years of work in front of them. I do not mind having 40 years ahead of me, but I reject the work bit. It was not my intention to speak on my retirement from Parliament today, but literally dozens of people have played a vital role in my career and the Government's success and history demands that a record be kept of their contributions. First and foremost, I thank my family, who are in the gallery—my lovely wife, Colleen, my children, John, Catherine, Bridget and Stephen—for 26 long years of love, support and patience during my political career.

    I also thank my grandchildren, Bella, Jack, Liam and Kate, for reminding me what life is really all about. They all have been exceptionally supportive, and sometimes critical, but at no stage did they ever stop shoring me up. In reality, the 1999 victory in Strathfield was a victory for my wife and children. I especially thank my wife, Colleen, who has also endured a very robust career in politics. The same can be said for my brothers and sisters and their wider families: John and Clara, Michael and Robin, Margaret and her late husband John, and Maureen and her late husband Ray. It is true to say that politics affects everybody who loves you, and they were all affected.

    I thank my branches for support over many years, and the electorates of Ashfield and Strathfield. They have supported me unstintingly through eight terms and eight elections. The wins were not, as I have said on many occasions, electoral victories for me. They were, in fact, electoral victories for a representative of the Australian Labor Party. The message from the electorate for me was to go out and work on its behalf. I did. I am very proud of my record of achievements as a local member. I do not walk around with a list of achievements in my pocket or my wallet. I simply ask people to look at the schools and hospitals and the provision of easy access. Last night Burwood council approved the development of a $20-million aged care centre on the old Western Suburbs Hospital site. That is a great achievement. My electorate continually showed faith in me as local member, and I have delivered.

    I have had the privilege of holding many portfolios over the years. Many people may not know that I first served as a Minister under former Labor Premier Neville Wran. In fact, I was a Cabinet member when the historic decision was made about rainforests. Naturally, I supported it. I held the portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Roads, Water Resources, Forests and Aboriginal Affairs. I served in Opposition with Premier Barrie Unsworth, then with Opposition Leader Bob Carr, and then in government with Premier Carr as his Minister for Police, as a senior Minister in the Government, and as Government Leader of the House. I leave politics having been the longest-serving police Minister in the history of this State. That is a fine achievement for an orphan boy from Ashfield. I seek leave to table and have incorporated in Hansard a list of a few highlights of my achievements as Minister for Police.

    Leave granted.

    Document tabled. [For incorporation see pages 7524A to 7524D inclusive.]

    Mr WHELAN: Many people have helped me during my time in charge of the Police portfolio and during my political career and they all deserve to be mentioned here today. When I think about highlights, I think of those who worked with me to introduce the toughest firearms laws in the history of New South Wales and, indeed, Australia. I remember all the way back to those who helped me draft the stalking laws that were first introduced when we were in Opposition. I am very proud of those achievements.

    Equally important legislation enacted during my ministership included child protection laws, drug house legislation, landmark DNA powers and increased powers for the New South Wales police service. I am proud to have worked with many of the people who are here today, starting with the Government Whip, George Thompson, and his able deputy, Jim Anderson. To George, who is retiring, the Labor Party owes you a great deal for your unswerving commitment and dedication to your constituents. Jim, who is a great deputy, earned the respect of his colleagues, and I wish him every success. I am sure that his electorate will reward him with re-election.

    Of Bob Carr I say he was without doubt the most fearsome Opposition leader that New South Wales has ever had. In opposition he was a very determined man, a very aggressive policy reformer. In opposition Labor Party members were all policy driven. Bob Carr, as Leader of the Opposition, copped a lot of personal criticism, but he stood tall above it. He will be remembered, without doubt, as a great Premier. Those early Opposition challenges made him a better person and a better Premier. Today he rang me and told me that four books are being written about him; he urged me to mention that so that everyone would buy them. The financial side of that achievement is a result of him dealing with Michael Egan for too long. When Bob Carr decides to call it quits, and leaves as State Premier, the legacies will be many and varied, including those in the huge portfolio areas of Health, Education, Police and Environment.

    I could talk about Bob Carr for a long time, but having said that undoubtedly he will prove to be the best Premier in this State's history, that is probably enough praise from anyone for one day. The last thing I will say about him is that he has been, and truly is, an inspirational leader. I have never had a blue with him, our conversations have always been robust, our relationship has been one of admiration. He took the New South Wales Labor Party from oblivion—and that is where we were in 1988. I remind the House that in my electorate of Ashfield, which I held prior to the 1988 election with a majority of 7,000, my majority was reduced to 300 on that election night; such was the savagery of that election.

    I lived in Victoria Street, and I worked at the polling booth at Yeo Park. Many people came to me and said, "Paul, we have supported you since 1976, but we just cannot vote for you." They gave me their reasons, which were many and varied, including the guns legislation and the Richmond report. I had supported many people and expected their support in return; but that did not happen. That is an example of the electoral pendulum, the changes that have happened in politics since my election in 1976. Gone is the former 35 per cent Australian Labor Party and 25 per cent Liberal-National Party status. The electorate, the State and the nation are much better off, but there is such a middle ground in Australian political life that there is no such thing as a certainty.

    I add this note of caution: Carr is no certainty. I think he will win, but there is no certainty in politics. Someone once said, "A rooster today, a feather duster tomorrow." I remind the House, and everyone listening, that politics can change in one hour as a result of instantaneous media. A great credit for the success of the Carr Government is due to the Premier's loyal deputy, the unsung hero. I do not want to embarrass some of my colleagues on the Left, and hanging on to the left-wing of the Australian Labor Party may have been a bit difficult, but somehow Andrew has kept all three sub-factions—or four or five—together. That is a mighty achievement by Dr Refshauge. People have said that Jack Ferguson was a great loyal deputy to Neville Wran. History will record that Andrew Refshauge has played a significant role in the success of the Carr Government.

    Today I would like to thank many others, starting with my former staff members when Labor was in opposition. Apart from my family, there were Johnny-Joe, my nephew, who is present in the gallery, Jason Clare and Jane Fitzgerald, who worked long hours. They were tireless workers, dedicated, committed in opposition and absolutely determined, as I was, to move from opposition to government. Honourable members would have noted that every time a division is called and the Government members move to the Opposition benches I get very agitated and nervous; I can hardly wait to get back to the Government benches.

    I also thank Lyn Cuneo, who is in the gallery. Lyn worked for me for many years as an electorate secretary and also when I became the Minister for Police. Lyn and her husband, George, have been an integral part of my life, my campaigns and my success. George has clocked up more leg work than I thought possible, delivering pamphlets. Likewise I thank my electorate staff, past and present, including Bernice, Miranda, Seija, and Mary, all of whom have worked tirelessly. I have had few electorate staff; when they come to work for me they stay, but that must be because of factors other than their boss. Bernice worked for me since the very early days and both can claim credit for my eight election successes.

    I thank the Ministry of Police and its Director-General, Les Tree, for providing valuable advice to me that I required as Minister. He gave me that advice professionally and unfailingly. I thank also the many people who worked with the Ministry of Police, many of whom are present in the gallery today. Many people have worked for me over the years, including Therese, Kellie-Jane, Pam, Cassandra, Katrina, Nicole, Helen, Jocelyn, Rosie, Alison, Kylie, Davina, Ingrid, Leanne, Tina, Cathy, Eammon, Chris, Bob Pullar, Anne, Anastacia, Elise, Dom, Kellie, Jeanette, Sandra, David, Gayle, Rod and Kasey. In respect of Jeanette and Sandra, they must share in my success in my role as Minister for Police—Sandra from 1995, when she started working for me, and Jeanette from 1999, when she began working for me. Jeanette, who is present in the gallery, arrived at a time of great stress in the then Police Service and in the Ministry of Police and the Office of the Minister for Police. Through Jeanette's great human relations skills, and being the great person she is, she was able to take control and run the office as chief of staff. To you Jeanette, I am indebted, as is the Government. I thank you.

    Sandra arrived as a former employee of the Sydney Morning Herald, well-known in Australia as an authoress but not knowing what to expect. I conduct very short job interviews, and at her job interview I said, "You have the right credentials to work here, you are on 30 days trial and so am I. The difference is if I don't like you, you go, but if you don't like me you still go." Sandra is a lady of enormous capacity. She had a time-consuming job yet she took the opportunity to write very successfully and will continue to write successfully. She is an incredible person, a very calming person, and I have no hesitation in saying that she has contributed a large percentage to my success as a Government Minister. All of my staff were committed and worked very hard.

    I also thank our most senior police: the current Commissioner of Police, Ken Moroney, and former commissioners Peter Ryan, Neil Taylor and Tony Lauer. I thank them all for different reasons. I single out Ken Moroney, with whom I worked closely during my seven years as Minister. He is well respected by his fellow police officers and is capable of taking policing in New South Wales to the next stage. I also single out Peter Ryan; he took on the very difficult task of leading the reform process of the then New South Wales Police Service in the wake of the damning Wood royal commission. Change is difficult! I thank Peter for his work in that regard and for the extraordinary expertise he brought to providing world-class security arrangements for the famous Sydney 2000 Olympics.

    I thank Neil Taylor for filling the void created when Tony Lauer retired. Neil took on that task and did a fantastic job for and on behalf of the Police Force and the people. Neil had intended to retire but I prevailed on him to stay on. He did so, and did a fantastic job until we advertised worldwide for a new Commissioner of Police. Tony Lauer worked very hard, and I never doubted his hard work and enthusiasm for the job. In my view, he copped a lot of unfounded criticism.

    I also take this opportunity to thank Assistant Commissioners Clive Small, Andrew Scipione, Dave Madden, Peter Walsh, Paul McKinnon, the late Bev Lawson, whom I have already mentioned, Dick Adams, Dan Dillon, Ron Sorenson, Frank Hansen, and Christine Nixon, who is now Chief Commissioner of Police in Victoria, just to name a few. I thank Phil Bradley, the Chairman of the Crime Commission, Judge Urquhart, Tim Sage, Mervyn Finlay, Justice Wood and the Police Association representatives over the years—Phil Tuncheon, Peter Remfrey and Ian Ball. I had an open door policy with the union—which I suspect occasionally drove my staff mad! I think that, co-operatively, we achieved changes that were positive for police officers: better equipment, training and laws to help them do their jobs; changes in line with community expectations about police accountability; drug and alcohol testing of police, and increased public scrutiny of the new and enhanced powers this Government has given to police to help them do their jobs.

    I do not want to be interrupted when I say this. I have travelled a lot. But, with the exception of two ministerial study tours during my period as police Minister, my trips have been personal: they have all been paid for by me. I met great people, including his Holiness the Pope, New York Police Department Commissioner William Bratton, Assistant Commissioner Jack Maple, Judge Mollen, who penned the historic Mollen report, and a former director of the FBI, Louis Freeh. By the way, that was in 1999. During my ministerial tour in 1995 I tried to get into New Scotland Yard to see the head there. I saw Sir John Stevens, the head of the British police, but they would not let anyone from the New South Wales police service anywhere near New Scotland Yard. I had an hour with Bratton, longer with Freeh, and even longer with Sir John Stevens. So it all turned around in that period, and that is great for the New South Wales police.

    In July 2000 I was planning my annual vacation. Bob Carr was the Premier but he was away at the time, so I wrote to the Acting Premier, Andrew Refshauge, seeking approval to take leave. On this occasion he was a bit tough, and he said no. He said he needed me to attend a Cabinet meeting in Bombala, on the South Coast. I had booked my vacation; I was ready to go. As a senior Minister, as one would expect, I had given an indication to the Cabinet Office that I was going away. It was July, it was a non-refundable ticket, the family was organised, the bags were packed. So I wrote back to Andrew, and I would like to share with honourable members the terms of my response. I wrote:

    Dear Acting Premier

    Thank you for your letter of 10 July 2000.

    I will endeavour to meet the objectives contained in your correspondence but I would advise that Bombala is some considerable distance from Tuscany.

    I must say I was very much looking forward to going to Bombala—a unique area in NSW. However, as you may be aware the bus from Tuscany to Rome airport travels over dirt routes and is a most unreliable service.

    In the event that I am unable to make a timely arrival at Bombala, I hope you will convey my sincere apologies to all attending the Cabinet meeting and civic reception—especially branch members.

    I have always been a team player, and that is the only occasion on which I have departed from that habit. Being police Minister was challenging and tough, and it was often an all-consuming job. On parliamentary sitting days—as Leader of the House and also as police Minister—it was even more so. My staff would begin the day by listening to morning radio from 5.30 a.m., finding out what Mr Tink, the shadow police Minister, had to say. I wish he had rung me at 10.30 at night so I did not have to get out of bed too early. Then the day's events would unfold, with calls to me, calls to the police, calls to the media, answers asked for, briefs written, questions still outstanding—even at 2.15 p.m.—and parliamentary responses prepared.

    Prior to question time, my staff would come down to brief me about the likely issues of the day. Because of the nature of policing, some of the information would have only evolved in the hour or two, or perhaps only 15 minutes, before I came into the Chamber. These pieces of information became affectionately known as the "bombs" of the day. I cannot recall the exact day, but it was the last Thursday at the end of a very long parliamentary session and my staff arrived to brief me. I remember who was there—Jeanette Evans, Sandra Harvey and my then media adviser Chris Perkins. Five minutes before question time they told me it was a pretty good day, to stick to the House folder, and that there was only one bomb. I was handed the brief—the standard format—which read:

    As you are aware a new police station is being constructed at Ashfield [in my electorate]. The Local Area Commander has been finalising contractual arrangements with the construction company. As part of these arrangements he has been required to provide the project managers with contact details for existing police officers working from the existing Ashfield facility—security codes to access the building, mobile phone numbers, home telephone numbers and personal addresses [of all police in the local area command]. At the same time [the local area commander] was processing a subpoena and charge material related to a well known underworld drug dealer [and contract killer]—information that needed to be sent to this alleged offender in the process of charging him with significant criminal offences.

    In the confusion of dealing with two such significant issues the Local Area Commander had sent the subpoena and charge material to the contractor—and the personal contact details and addresses of [all police in the local area command] to the drug dealer [and contract killer].

    I cannot tell you exactly what I said. I read the brief; my staff looked serious. I stood up, looked at it again, and then I read the suggested response. It read:

    Regrettable mistake, could have happened to anyone.

    At that point I roared with laughter—I am sure the laughter could have been heard in Macquarie Street. And the laughter is what gets you through the pressure of this job—being on call 24 hours a day, every day of the week. I thank my staff for maintaining a sense of humour, despite my unrelenting demands and workloads. Over such a long career, and with a portfolio like police, there will always be highs and lows. The most difficult things for me personally were the tragedies of seeing so many police lose their lives or have them damaged by the extraordinary mental and physical demands of policing. I wish I could feel more comfortable about the success of the many projects I drove to provide officers with better equipment, training and support. Being a police officer is a very, very tough job, and I thank all past and present officers for their services to the community.

    In conclusion, I have endorsed a fine candidate named Virginia Judge. This is the fourth occasion on which Virginia has been preselected as a candidate. On the third occasion she was gracious enough, at a minute's notice, to stand down and let me run for the seat of Strathfield. She is a wonderful person, and she has my support. If elected—and I think the electorate will endorse her—she will continue the great work. Thank you.

    Page 7524A
    ______

    SOME ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE POLICE PORTFOLIO

    Police Numbers
    • In November 1994, towards the end of the last Coalition Government's term, the total number of police was 12,678.

    • On 31 May 2001, the total number of police was 13,660. This is an increase of 982 during this Government's time in office.

    • In our current term of office, additional funding is being provided each year to meet the Governments commitment to increase police numbers by 1,000 by the end of 2003.

    • Funding for 600 new officers has already been provided in the last three budgets, and funding for a further 400 officers is scheduled for the next three budgets.

    Response Times
    • Police response times have been slashed to put NSW police on par with the world's best, with a 52% improvement since March 1998.

    Technology
    • The integration of intelligence, forensic and technological enhancements has significantly enhanced the capabilities of the Police Service in the management and investigation of crime.

    Investigation Management System (e@gle.i)
    • The Police Service's Investigation Management System (e@gle.i) is a multi-award winning system that enables all material from a police investigation to be online and accessible from any police station in the State.

    • It has won numerous awards including a Premier's Award and an Australian Information Industry Association Award in the Australian Governments category, for the best use of information technology to improve operations and services to benefit government and taxpayers.

    • The e@gle.i system holds all the evidence for a crime, including statements (both word-processed and scanned signed documents), photos, videos and audio material. This system offers enormous potential for managing crime investigations and making the information widely available throughout the Service to assist in solving crime.

    • e@gle.i has been rolled out to 11 metropolitan Local Area Commands and 5 rural LACs including Albury, Wagga Wagga, Tweed/Byron, Monaro (Queanbeyan) and Hunter.

    • It is also being used in more than 130 active investigations by Specialist commands including Crime Agencies and Special Crime and Internal Affairs.

    • The system is accessible from all NSW police stations.

    Mobile Data Terminals
    • The Carr Government has provided $7 million to the Police Service for the provision of a Mobile Data System (MDS).

    • The $7 million is providing for the installation of data terminals in the majority of marked police vehicles as well as the data centre infrastructure necessary to support the MDS.

    • Over 300 Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) have been installed to date across the Metropolitan, South Eastern and Hunter regions and another 192 are due to be installed.

    • These MDTs will be rolled out in City East, Endeavour, Greater Hume, Georges River, Hunter, South Eastern regions, and the State Protection Group and Crime Agencies.

    • The Mobile Data System enables police to access Police Service information systems from their vehicles.

    • With this capacity they are able to obtain details of vehicle registrations, criminal records and all information in the Computerised Operational Policing System (COPS).

    • They can also enter incident data directly from their vehicles.

    • This frees up the computer resources back at the police stations, and help with a smooth change of shifts, without the usual rush to finish entering data on a limited number of computers.

    • MDTs have GPS positional sensing capability that can provide location coordinates for the vehicle, which improves officer safety.

    Livescan
    • $7.2 million has been allocated for 1ivescan technology, which is currently being implemented.

    • Livescan is an electronic, inkless fingerprinting system using laser technology to scan fingers and palms to produce clear undistorted images. It will be integrated with the national CrimTrac system, contributing to nationwide access to suspects' fingerprints.

    • The system allows real time identification of people in custody, preventing inappropriate release on bail.

    • Police have been able to detect the true identity of many offenders by checking their fingerprints against the database whilst they are in police custody.

    Page 7524B

    • On the introduction of Livescan, two offenders who were in custody argued between themselves for the right to be the first person in Australia to have their fingerprints captured electronically. The winner "punched the air" in jubilation.

    • Livescan has already been installed at Bankstown, Burwood, Cabramatta, Fairfield, Newcastle and Surry Hills Local Area Commands.

    • By the end of June, Livescan will be installed in 10 more locations, including Blacktown, Campbelltown, Coffs Harbour, Lismore, Maitland, Mascot, Penrith, Port Macquarie, the Police Academy and the Fingerprint Operations Centre.

    • An additional 25 sites will follow. These are Mount Druitt, Parramatta, Green Valley, Tweed Heads, Gosford, Dubbo, Liverpool, Port Kembla, Wollongong, Armidale, Bathurst, Nowra, The Entrance, Batemans Bay, Tamworth, Wagga, Harbourside, Belmont, Queanbeyan, Orange, Auburn, Camden, Albury, Hurstville and Sutherland.

    Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS)
    • $4 million has been provided in 2000/01 for acquisition of an Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) and the system has been in use since 12 October 2000.

    • IBIS is the equivalent of DNA testing for weapons.

    • IBIS will revolutionise the investigation of firearm related crime by capturing data from bullets and cartridge cases and electronically comparing the unique markings left by firearms on bullet cartridges.

    • Just recently, police used IBIS to match cartridges from two drive-by shootings that occurred in Sydney's west last year.

    • Police say that IBIS does in 70 minutes work that would take 240 years without this technology.

    Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Mapping
    • The Police Service is at the leading edge in the application of geographic mapping information to the analysis of crime.

    • The GIS technology allows the visual identification of crime "hotspots" and spatial crime patterns, defining where crime is occurring.

    • It gives police the ability to look at crime on a 'global' scale across Local Area Command boundaries.

    DNA Technology
    • DNA testing has helped in the conviction of Ivan Milat and Stephen James Boney, the Wee Waa rapist.

    • This Government has passed legislation to empower the police to take DNA samples from suspects or those convicted of or imprisoned for a serious indictable offence.

    • The Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Act 2000 was proclaimed on January 1, 2001. This Act confirms the Government's commitment to addressing crime and improving the operation of the criminal justice system.

    • DNA is the fingerprint of the 21st century. The Act provides police with an effective investigative tool for detecting crime and will assist in deterring offenders from re-offending, thereby making the community safer.

    • The Act enables law enforcement agencies to identify or exclude suspects by comparing forensic material taken from them with material found at crime scenes. It will link seemingly unrelated crimes by comparing DNA profiles found at different crime scenes.

    • This legislation has the potential to assist victims of crime by encouraging guilty pleas and hence avoiding often traumatic and lengthy court proceedings.

    • An independent custodian of the DNA database will be appointed to protect the integrity of the database.

    • It is important to remember that DNA testing can also be used to free anyone wrongly convicted of crimes. A number of suspects in rape and murder cases have already been cleared of suspicion by DNA testing.

    • NSW will be the first State to set up a Panel to use forensic science to ensure justice.

    • The Innocence Panel will commence in July 2001 to receive and process applications from convicted persons where DNA held by the Police Service may assist in establishing grounds of wrongful conviction.

    Intelligence Based Policing
    • Local Area Commands use intelligence-based policing methods to meet local law enforcement needs.

    • Police resources are allocated within Local Area Commands according to intelligence-based assessments of areas of greatest need and emerging crime trends and 'hot-spots'.

    • Intelligence processes provide police with the ability to identify what numbers of police are required with what skills in what locations at any time of the day or week.

    Police Assistance Line
    • The Police Assistance Line (PAL) is a reporting system that enables the public to report minor crime by telephone, thereby freeing up police time for dealing with more serious crime and crime prevention.

    • The Government provided $9 million in capital funding to establish PAL.

    Page 7524C

    • PAL has been operating State-wide since January 2000, and surveys conducted since its inception show that it is well accepted in the community.

    • A survey by Woolcott Research in March 2000 got the following results:

    • 47% awareness of PAL in the community;

    • 91% agree that PAL is a good way to deal with non-urgent cases;

    • 81% agree that the introduction of PAL shows the NSW police are genuinely concerned about improving their service to the general public.

    • The Police Service's customer surveys show that over 90% of victims surveyed rate the service as good or excellent.

    • PAL has been awarded the prestigious Greenfield Teleservices Site of the Year in the Australian Teleservices Association (ATA) State Awards 2000. PAL competed against the top call centres from both the public and private sectors to win this award.

    • PAL also received a gold award in the Premier's Public Sector Awards 2000 for being the best government service delivery project for the year 2000.

    • PAL is freeing up police time equivalent to up to 500 police for frontline duties.

    • This means that police are spending much more of their time out on the streets instead of at desks answering calls.

    • PAL has also delivered 240 new jobs to regional NSW, in Tuggerah and Lithgow.

    Firearms
    • NSW has the toughest firearm laws in Australia and we are making them tougher.

    • Increased specialist enforcement personnel and increased police powers to target firearm traffickers will reduce the availability of firearms to criminals.

    • Under the Firearms Amendment (Trafficking) Bill 2001:

    • penalties for the illegal possession of a prohibited firearm will be increased from 10 to 14 years gaol;

    • it will be illegal to supply or take part in the supply of firearms to any person not authorised to carry them, carrying a 20-year prison sentence;

    • it will be illegal for a licensed firearm dealer to wilfully record false details in firearms transactions and for an eligible person to act as a front for an illegal firearms dealer (both will carry 14 years goal);

    • it will be illegal to conspire to traffic illegal firearms, even if such conspiring takes place outside of NSW;

    • police will have the power to demand all firearms and parts for inspection from suspected arms dealers;

    • it will be compulsory to register firearm frames to curb illegal trade in firearm parts; and

    • there will be an extended definition of possession which requires the owner, occupier or person in control of premises on or in which an illegal gun is found to explain to the court why they should not be found guilty of unauthorised possession of a firearm.

    • The Government's continued efforts in this area make it clear how seriously we regard the illegal possession of a firearm, and demonstrate our dedication to providing a safer society.

    Crimes Legislation (Police and Public Safety) Amendment Act 1998
    • This Act commenced on 1 July 1998. The Act:

    • makes the custody of a knife in a public place an offence;

    • permits police to conduct searches for knives and other dangerous implements; and

    • gives police the power to "move on" people in public places whose behaviour or presence constitutes an obstruction, harassment, intimidation or causes fear.

    • The Government has also legislated to prohibit the sale of knives to people under 16 years of age.

    • As of 31 May 2001, police have used their new powers to undertake 69,494 searches, confiscated 12,813 knives and weapons and used their new powers to give directions on 73,583 occasions.

    Children (Protection and Parental Responsibility) Act 1997
    • The Government introduced this landmark legislation in response to the concerns of country NSW about the safety of children, and their involvement in crime. The Act seeks to protect both children and the broader community.

    • The Act allows wilfully negligent parents to be held accountable for the crimes of their children. It also gives police the power to remove at risk children under the age of 16 from public places. Children are returned to a parent, relative or person approved by DOCS.

    Page 7524D

    • The Act encourages local councils to work in partnership with the NSW Government in developing and implementing crime prevention strategies specially tailored to the needs of local communities.

    • The Carr Government recognises that not all communities need or want local police to have these removal powers. Local councils seeking these powers must apply to the Attorney General for an operational area under the Act.

    Police Powers (Vehicles) Act 1998

    • The Act gave police new powers to stop and search a certain class of vehicles, including the power to set up roadblocks.

    • It also empowered police to seek identification information from the owner and from the driver of the vehicle.

    Young Offenders Act

    • The Young Offenders Act encourages young offenders charged with less serious offences to take responsibility for their crimes and promotes their reintegration into the community by diverting them from court and detention.

    • Cautions and conferences under the Act are not a soft option. Family members and, in some cases respected members of an offenders' community, are encouraged to participate in the caution process. In more serious cases, where a youth justice conference is appropriate, the offender is brought face to face with their victim and that victim given a say in how the offender should be dealt with. Making an offender understand the hurt they have caused their victim is both a confronting and educative experience.

    • In the years prior to the introduction of the Act in 1998, police diverted only about 12% of young offenders. During the first year of the Act's operation in 1999, about 36% of young offenders were diverted from court through cautions or a youth justice conference. In the second year of operation, 2000, 41% of young offenders were diverted. When the number of diversions through warnings are taken into account, the diversion rate is significantly higher.

    • The Service has introduced a number of strategies to improve outcomes for young offenders and the community under the Act. It has:

    • appointed specially trained and accredited Youth Liaison Officers (YLOS) to each of NSW's 80 LACs to carry out much of the Act's implementation at a local level;

    • trained over 950 police to be specialist youth officers under the Act;

    • included questions for Local Area Commanders about the use of the Act in Operational Crime Reviews;

    • has promoted use of the Legal Aid Hotline for young offenders;

    • has commenced upgrades of the COPS computer system to allow better data on police interventions with young people to be recorded and analysed.

    Reducing crime

    • The crime rate is down in NSW after a decade long increase that began under successive coalition governments (data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research [BOCSAR]).

    • We have sustained a drop in crime while delivering reform, better service, improved public confidence and the Olympic Games.

    • The improvement in NSW crime statistics indicates that the Government's commitment to improving police resources, powers and professionalism is reducing crime across the State and the Commissioner's focus on ethical cost effective crime reduction is paying off.

    • This trend has been attributed to five major themes:

    • Fighting crime: through smarter policing

    • Police strength: record numbers of police

    • Front line policing: improving response to calls for assistance

    • Officer safety: protecting officers doing their jobs

    • Police powers: appropriate authority, appropriate safeguards

    OCRs

    • In order to implement major change within the Police Service and ensure police officers can do their jobs better, smarter and safer, the Commissioner has introduced Operational Crime Reviews (OCRs).

    • The OCRs use an intelligence driven forum to focus on the main business of policing—reducing crime and improving clear-up rates—ensuring that Local Area Commanders are accountable for solving crimes.

    • These panels are based on the successful New York Police Compstat Model which use "best practice" policing to respond to local crime patterns.

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