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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-05-04 Daily Xml
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South Australia Police

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (17:44): I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises that 2023 marks the 185th year of the South Australia Police (SAPOL), making it the oldest centrally controlled police force in Australia;

2. Acknowledges the significant role SAPOL plays in protecting and reassuring individuals and communities across South Australia; and

3. Gives thanks to all past and present SAPOL officers, staff and volunteers for their service.

28 April this year marked 185 years since the establishment of the South Australian police force. Today commonly called SAPOL, it bears the distinction of being the oldest centrally controlled police force in Australia, and it is recognised as the third oldest centrally controlled police force in the world after the London and Dublin metropolitan forces. As you would expect over such a long period, SAPOL has undergone a great deal of change and advancement in every regard. From its earliest origins to the present, SAPOL's history is compelling throughout. I am pleased to have the opportunity today to touch upon some of that history.

Originally, the colony of South Australia was not intended to have a police force at all. The colonisation commissioners in London expected that criminality would be rare to non-existent amongst the free settlers of South Australia. As such, policing during the first 16 months of European settlement was undertaken by a few part-time special constables, supported as necessary by the small number of Royal Marines who were in the service of the Governor. However, amid concerns about convicts from the neighbouring colonies entering SA, and following a burglary, a murder and two attempted murders in Adelaide during March 1838, the decision was taken to establish a formal and organised police force.

It began with 10 mounted constables and 10 foot constables. With increasing arrivals of further settlers, the force did not take long to expand. In 1840, the first Commissioner of Police was appointed, and SAPOL comprised one superintendent, two inspectors, three sergeants and 47 constables across both foot and mounted sections. Early personnel, in addition to their police work, also served in additional capacities, such as firefighting until the MFS was formed in 1867. The police operated the civil ambulance service from 1880 until it was taken over by the St John Ambulance brigade in 1954.

It does not end there. The South Australian Police Historical Society's list of miscellaneous police duties in the first 100 years mentions, among other things, responsibility for the destroyer of wild dog scalps, inspector of width of tyres, issuer of bull licences, issuer of mining licences, sheep inspector and public vaccinator. The last item reminds us that SAPOL is not new to operating in public health as a vital companion to public safety, as they did so steadfastly during the acute phases of the COVID pandemic.

In their proud history, SAPOL have been pioneers and innovators in a number of areas. To name only a few significant moments, they have included in 1880 being the first police force in Australia to adopt the use of camels for police transport, in SA's Far North and central Australia. They formed the first police band in Australia in 1884, which continues today. They introduced bicycles for metropolitan and country foot police in 1893, and they implemented Australia's first fingerprint system in 1894.

In 1915, the South Australian police force was responsible for appointing the first women police officers in the British commonwealth to be employed with equal pay and arrest authorities as their male counterparts. They also introduced in 1987 an Australian first, the videotaping of 'suspect person' interviews, and they were the first Australian policing jurisdiction to appoint a woman to a tactical response group, Senior Sergeant Jane Kluzek, who was appointed to STAR Group in 1999.

The story of SAPOL in many ways reflects the story of South Australia. We are a jurisdiction with a history of pioneering opportunities for women and a history of innovation and of embracing technological and scientific advancement. That our police force has shared these attributes is a testament to SAPOL's connection to our community.

We must never forget nor underestimate the vital work that South Australian police officers do to keep that community safe. Every day, SA police officers are out there putting the interests and the safety of the people of South Australia first. This was clearly on display yesterday when we heard of the horrific incident in Crystal Brook where two police officers were savagely attacked and sustained serious knife wounds while on duty. I am sure I speak on behalf of all of us in the chamber today when I say our thoughts are with the two police officers involved and we pass on our best wishes for a speedy recovery.

The Malinauskas government recognises the essential role our state's police force plays in maintaining and enhancing community safety and wellbeing. Our strong support of our hardworking police and protective security officers is underpinned by policy and legislative initiatives that we have delivered since taking office last year. We have allocated $6.5 million in last year's budget to fund 1,500 new multipurpose load-bearing vests to help protect frontline SAPOL officers and protective security officers carrying out their duties.

We have acted to ensure our police have more tools to combat dangerous and inattentive driving on our roads and we have taken measures to ensure SAPOL can more effectively monitor the movements of bushfire offenders during the fire danger season.

We have boosted funding to support the work of Operation Ironside, SAPOL's Serious and Organised Crime Branch and, very importantly, we have fulfilled our commitment to establish the Premier's Taskforce, which will make recommendations on police resourcing and numbers over the next 10 to 15 years. We recognise the importance of an appropriately resourced police force, both in safeguarding our community and in ensuring suitable and safe conditions for our police and protective officers.

It is my pleasure to commend and celebrate 185 years of operation of South Australia Police and we look forward to continuing to work with SAPOL in the future to ensure strength and safety for the hardworking people of our police force and great outcomes for our community. I commend the motion.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. L.A. Henderson.

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