Ministerial Statement

Police Technology Updates

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:09): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: The state government has a strong record of continued investment in new technology for South Australia Police. This will be continued in the 2015-16 state budget, with funding provided for new technology and system upgrades, which will increase safety for our police officers and keep more police out on the beat for longer to keep our community safe. We are providing $7.4 million over five years to roll out removable, rugged, vehicle-based electronic tablets, replacing the current fixed in-car data devices. We are providing $5.9 million over four years to provide body-worn video devices for front-line police, and we are providing $4.1 million over the next two years to replace SAPOL's human resources and payroll management system. Through this investment, the state government is delivering on its election commitment to roll out electronic tablets to front-line police.

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is called to order.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Last year, a trial of electronic tablets was held in the Elizabeth Local Service Area, and this trial has proved successful. Today we are fulfilling our election promise, with feedback from SAPOL indicating a trial of 350 tablets has been a great success. In the order of 680 electronic tablets will be installed in police vehicles, replacing fixed in-car data devices. A pool of 175 extra tablets will be able to be used by other frontline police. These rugged tablets will be capable of being mounted in the vehicle and easily removed by officers when they attend events, thereby giving the benefit of both in-vehicle computing and portability to capture, retrieve and submit information in the field. This is part of the overall strategy to deliver more field-based policing operations. This means more police in our community preventing crime and making our state safer.

Through the trial, SAPOL can now estimate that the initiative will save a total of 165 hours per day productivity time for our front-line officers, or $3.3 million per annum, the equivalent of deploying about 29 extra sworn officers. The rollout of body-worn camera devices will also lead to productivity gains and safety benefits for our officers. With front-line police facing many different daily challenges, the body-worn cameras will act as an additional safety barrier as officers go about their work.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I call to order the deputy leader.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: The body-worn cameras also enhance the quality of evidence collected on the beat, which will reduce both costs and the time associated with legal proceedings and court appearances. These initiatives add to other technologies that the state government has equipped police officers with, including tasers, semiautomatic firearms and mobile fingerprint scanners. It also continues our long-term investment in our police force by embracing world's best practice to ensure South Australia remains one of the safest places in the world to live and work.