CRIME STATISTICS

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): Does the Premier agree with his Minister for Police, the Hon. Paul Holloway, who said on Friday 1 May 2008 on Radio FIVEaa that the more police we have, the more reported crime we have? The Hon. Paul Holloway MLC said:

We have 72 more patrols on the road throughout the state. Now, if you've got 72 more patrols, inevitably you will get more car chases. Those patrols will see more stolen cars, they will see more bad behaviour on the roads. So, I suppose in that sense the more police you have, the more statistics will go up.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The leader has asked his question. The Attorney-General.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:22): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for that recitation of the bleedin' obvious. Thank you. Martin Hamilton-Smith, welcome to Mastermind! Your special subject: the bleedin' obvious! There are two types of crime: victim-reported crime and police reported crime. The distinction is well recognised by the Office of Crime Statistics here in South Australia.

Mr Hamilton-Smith interjecting:

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: But wait, there's more. Listen carefully. The more police one has, the more police reported crime there will be. For instance, take drug crime: by and large, drug crime is not reported by victims. Drug crime is reported by police doing drug operations and finding drug traffickers and booking them. Do you get the distinction?

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: Interestingly, the member for Finniss says Gouger Street. Yesterday, I noticed a restaurateur asking the Leader of the Opposition to leave his premises or he would call the police. Clearly, that is an example of victim reported crime. On the whole, during the six years of the Rann Labor government, crime has gone down by about 18 per cent, although not in every category. For instance, people are still biffing each other in the street and, yes, assaults have gone up marginally but, on the whole, crime is down by 18 per cent, and the opposition weeps.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!