CRIME PREVENTION UNIT

In reply to the Hon. R.D. LAWSON (28 April 2008).

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs): The Minister for Police has provided the following information:

SAPOL’s Project Compass undertook a review of SAPOL’S approach to crime prevention through the Crime Prevention Structures Review, completed in October 2007. Crime prevention was previously supported across SAPOL by a number of central functions and delivered by Crime Service, Operations Support Service and Local Service Areas.

The review recommended a new approach to crime prevention via the development of a SAPOL Crime Prevention Strategy, creation of new organisational structures to support crime prevention and the development of a new Problem Solving Strategy. The implementation of the State Crime Prevention Branch subsequently occurred on 2 January 2008.

To complement the new structure and focus on a new approach, the current Community Programs Sections in Local Service Areas (LSA) will be disbanded and new crime prevention sections created. The sections will be resourced by a combination of extra positions from Recruit 400 and upgrading of existing positions. The crime prevention sections will lead SAPOL’s crime prevention strategy and drug strategy in the LSA and oversee the use of problem solving in the LSA.

The strategy aligns with the objectives of the South Australia Strategic Plan 2007 and further aligns with SAPOL’s Future Directions Strategy 2007-10 for crime prevention. It is a crime prevention intervention model focusing on:

Problem solving

Crime analysis and Information

Program research and development

Community education and community engagement

Response and investigation

Early intervention and program delivery

Workforce education and capacity building

Evaluation and continuous Improvement

It is linked to SAPOL’s crime prevention objectives of:

Reduction in alcohol and drug related issues

Reduction in car and property crime

Protecting property and targeting repeat offenders

Prevention of domestic violence, child abuse, sex crimes, violent assaults and robbery

Curbing youth crime involvement and working with indigenous communities to prevent crime

Preventing e-crime and internet vulnerability

Disrupting motor cycle gangs and organised crime

Making public places and public transport safer

Reducing death and injury on our roads

SAPOL’s new Crime Prevention Strategy has been designed to meet SAPOL’s current and future needs.

SAPOL is represented at senior management level on the Victims of Crime Ministerial Advisory Council. An information update on the work being undertaken by SAPOL will be provided to the Council at an appropriate time.