Community Safety

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (14:52): My question is to the Minister for Police. Can the minister advise whether on some weekend nights only two police officers are patrolling Hindley Street and, if so, whether that has any impact on officer or community safety? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BATTY: It has been reported that a dire shortfall of officers has meant that those left patrolling Hindley Street are forced to turn a blind eye to some incidents they would ordinarily take action against. Yesterday The Advertiser described our city as a 'war zone'.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Special Minister of State) (14:52): I appreciate this important question from the shadow minister. Antisocial behaviour or other criminal activity in our CBD is not something that the government or South Australia Police is prepared to tolerate. Policing operations have been developed to address issues that are specific to the CBD, including, as the shadow minister may be aware, Operation City Safe and Operation Paragon. In terms of Operation City Safe, it provides additional SAPOL staff in the CBD on the weekends. It is an important and valuable contribution to ensuring that there is not just a visible police presence but also sufficient officers to respond if other circumstances develop that might be necessary for additional policing operations.

There is also a focus on West End entertainment precincts and, as an extension of operations, on the East End during times of increased activity, most usually over the festival period. Whilst the shadow minister is particularly focused on Hindley Street, policing operations extend right across the city, depending particularly on the types of events that might be occurring. The other important matter that I want to emphasise to the shadow minister is that the Operation City Safe model is supported by the State Operations Support Branch, the Licensing Enforcement Branch, the Mounted Operations Unit, and if circumstances require from an operational perspective—keeping in mind the important distinction between operational matters, those matters or those policy issues which require additional investment or focus from government—the STAR Group, which of course can be called upon if necessary.

I think it's also important by way of additional information that might assist the shadow minister for me to remark that police have partnerships with and meet with, of course, the City of Adelaide; Consumer and Business Services on a frequent basis, not only in the course of Operation Eclipse but also to ensure that police are able to meet their multiagency response and support obligations; government and non-government homelessness services and their providers; the East End Coordination Group; Riverbank Precinct security forum; Rundle Mall Management; and Chinatown traders groups. I hope these remarks emphasise that there are a number of different police operations that are available to support policing, not just in Hindley Street but right across our CBD.

I think that it's right for me to also emphasise that in March 2021, a timeframe familiar to those opposite, the then Senior Management Council (SMC) agreed to establish a high-level cross-government working group to develop short, medium and long-term strategies in planning to reduce antisocial behaviours associated sometimes with visitors to the CBD from remote Aboriginal communities.

South Australia Police, of course, is very sensitive to the different policing challenges that arise from the movement of different groups across our state at different times of the year. I think it is absolutely right to emphasise that police resources are also available to assist with those matters.

I think it's right for me as well to touch on Operation Paragon, which commenced, of course, originally in 2014, which provides support as well to precincts in and around—

Time expired.