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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-29 Daily Xml
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POLICE, APY LANDS

Ms BREUER (Giles) (14:54): My question is to the Minister for Police. What measures have been implemented by the government and SAPOL to increase safety for communities in the APY lands in the Far North of South Australia?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:54): I am pleased to report that the effort of the Rann government and SAPOL to increase the police presence on the APY lands is having a positive impact on communities living on the lands. I am advised that as at 30 September 2008, SAPOL had eight full-time police living on the lands—four at Murpatja and four at Umuwa. Four community constables and three police Aboriginal liaison officers support these officers. In addition, six police officers and a clerical officer are stationed at Marla to service the eastern region of the APY lands. A detective, two child and family violence crime prevention officers and a project officer are also based at Marla and work across the lands.

As a result of Commissioner Mullighan's inquiry into child sexual abuse on the lands, the Police Commissioner has agreed to allocate eight extra police to staff three new police stations to be built at Amata, Ernabella and Mimili. When completed, SAPOL will have four uniformed officers at each location—Amata, Ernabella and Mimili; three uniformed officers at Murputja; one senior sergeant, one detective and two child and family violence crime prevention officers at Umuwa; six uniformed police and one support person at Marla; and 10 community constables, including police Aboriginal liaison officers, covering the lands. They will be supported by one inspector and one senior sergeant, responsible for community constables from Adelaide.

SAPOL's increased presence on the lands is already producing results. In early September the detective and a child and family violence crime prevention officer investigated a report of a sexual matter. Subsequently, a 19-year-old male from the lands was arrested for aggravated and indecent assault and later charged with rape. Furthermore, SAPOL statistics show that victim-reported crime on the APY lands is showing a steady downward trend. It is clear the increase in police presence is having a positive impact on offending behaviour. The increased policing resources stationed within these communities, the continued review of existing policing strategies and the development of new strategies to improve community safety evidence this commitment. While no-one denies there is still more work to be done, it is clear we are heading in the right direction.

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