SOUTH AUSTRALIA POLICE

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Police. What police operations targeting property-related offences are there in the southern suburbs?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:57): I thank the member for Kaurna for the question. As the house may remember, earlier this year South Australia Police reported that there had been an increase in property-related crime within the South Coast Local Service Area, particularly break-ins to residences. After identifying a trend in the figures for the area, SAPOL undertook a number of operations involving the deployment of both uniformed and plain-clothed officers within identified regions of the South Coast LSA.

This deployment was intelligence based and used the combined resources of local operational staff and the State Tactical Response Group, neighbourhood policing teams, the Dog Operations Unit and the STAR Group. In particular, Operation Ageless and Operation Falcon have been successful in cracking down on the incidence of property-related offending in the area. The result of these operations has led to 60 arrests, 21 reports, 16 cautions, 53 traffic and general expiation notices, and 22 cannabis expiation notices.

A key finding of the intelligence gathered from these operations and subsequent arrests has identified a pattern of drug dealing in exchange for stolen property. This has provided valuable information to allow our police to crack down on property-related crime in the southern suburbs, as well as other issues of criminality which relate.

The government remains committed to addressing the link between property crime and drug use in our community. It has been the increase in police numbers delivered by this government that has allowed the creation of new teams like the State Tactical Response Group and others that give SAPOL the flexibility to deal with hot spots of crime.

The house may be interested that the introduction of the Second-hand Goods Bill is another example of where we have attempted to deliver extra resources and powers to police to break the cycle of crime. As I explained, what we found in the southern suburbs was that those increases in break-ins were related to drug purchases and drug-related crime. While it is disappointing that not everyone in this parliament shares that view, I take the Leader of the Opposition at his word when he says he wants to work with police to make South Australia a safer place. It has been a shaky start, particularly in relation to that piece of legislation, but we will see how he comes up next time when tested.

The SPEAKER: The minister should not anticipate debate on a matter before the house.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Yes. Mr Speaker, I am advised by SAPOL that, as a result of these operations in the southern suburbs, there has been a noticeable reduction in overall property-related offending within the South Coast LSA, particularly within the areas which have been identified and targeted. I am sure that these results will be welcome news for those living within the southern suburbs. I note the interest of the members for Reynell, Kaurna and Mawson in relation to this issue. I once again congratulate SAPOL on their effective and timely response to this issue and for their continued efforts to support safer communities in South Australia.