Response times by police had improved for emergencies but were down for priority two jobs, which has been attributed to pressure on a stretched workforce. Photo: ACT Policing.
ACT Policing is receiving more reports of assaults in public and at home, according to its latest annual report.
Concerningly, almost half of the reported offences (44.3 per cent) were related to family violence.
The report for the 2022-2023 financial year showed that police were alerted to 4259 “offences against the person”, a 16.3 per cent increase (or 597 more offences) when compared to 2021-22, while overall assault offences increased by 14.8 per cent.
“Person offences reported or becoming known per 100,000 for the 2022-23 financial year is 934.26,” the report stated.
“While this is an increase on the past three financial years, those years were affected by COVID-19 lockdowns.”
The amount of reported sexual offences also rose 8.8 per cent to 633 cases.
Family violence-related assaults increased by 12 per cent to an average of 11 incidents each day.
The five-year trend of offences against a person has risen in the past financial year. Photo: ACT Policing Annual Report 2022-23.
Homicide and related offences were down, as were property offences such as burglary, stolen motor vehicle, other theft and property damage (down 13.5 per cent).
The downward trend for stolen motor vehicles, in particular, was attributed to Operation TORIC, which ACT Policing established to combat the increase in such crimes and associated dangerous driving and drug-related crime.
More than 280 apprehensions and 700 charges have been laid under the operation.
“Drug driving, driving while disqualified or suspended, and stealing a motor vehicle (including riding in or driving a stolen motor vehicle) are amongst the most common offence types,” the report noted.
“These arrests have made Canberra’s streets safer and resulted in a marked reduction of offences including residential burglaries, commercial burglaries, and stolen motor vehicles.”
A third Operation TORIC team has since been established, focusing resources on identifying recidivist dangerous drivers, including fail-to-stop offenders.
The number of offenders proceeded against in court on more than one occasion has also fallen below the five-year trend to 22 per cent.
“This continues the downward trend since 2019-20 and is the lowest proportion of offenders proceeded against in the last five years,” the report noted.
Response times by police had improved for emergencies but were down for priority two jobs, which has been attributed to pressure on a stretched workforce.
The average length of time to respond to priority one incidents was 7.4 minutes, which is 9.3 per cent below the maximum target of 8.2 minutes.
But it was taking police an average of 18.1 minutes to respond to priority two calls.
“The high volume of priority two incidents reported to ACT Policing has presented challenges for ACT Policing in meeting Performance Measures relating to response times since 2015-16,” the report noted.
“While the number of priority two incidents decreased by 4.2 per cent in the last 12 months, there has been an increase of more than 4.7 per cent in the last five years and more than 33 per cent over the last 10 years.”
It’s hoped initiatives such as the new online reporting capability will ease pressure on call-takers and responders, with the service set up to take reports of non-urgent, minor property damage and vandalism.
There are plans to expand the service to traffic ‘hooning’ incidents, along with minor theft offences and property offences such as burglaries.
The number of complaints against police has continued its downward trend, with 64 incidents filed, the lowest result of the past five years.
Looking ahead, police cite raising the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) and implementing the new drugs of dependence legislation as challenges.
Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan said the agency’s preference was that the MACR should be “nationally consistent”, and the report noted ACT Policing “strongly recommends” that relevant 24/7 wrap-around support services, including after-hours and crisis accommodation, be in place and appropriately resourced before the ACT’s MACR coming into effect.
“[This is] to successfully divert youth away from harmful behaviours, improve their overall wellbeing and result in positive outcomes for community safety in the ACT,” the report stated.
ACT Policing continues implementing recommendations from the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response report and has redeveloped its sexual offences and child abuse training program.
Operation FOSTER has been established to reinvestigate sexual assault matters recommended by the SAPR oversight committee. As of 30 June 2023, 22 of the 749 matters reviewed were recommended for immediate reinvestigation by Operation FOSTER or re-engagement by Victim Support ACT.
Seven complainants have also self-referred their case for inclusion in the review.
Graphic overview of reports and arrests made in Canberra in the past financial year. Photo: ACT Policing Annual Report 2022-23.
CPO Gaughan said despite the challenges of the past financial year, Canberra’s officers would continue performing their duties to the best of their abilities.
“Policing in the ACT continues to evolve and become more complex, and I am very aware that officers have been doing their best with the resources available to them to apprehend criminals, respond to mental health incidents, investigate tragic road fatalities and work to keep the Canberra community safe,” he said.
“I am confident that more staff, in addition to process improvements and broad capability uplift, will help to alleviate the current workload pressures felt by ACT Policing’s members.”
Loading ...
