Tasmania Police Halve Crime Rates Over Ten Years
Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP
Greens Police and Emergency Services spokesperson
The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed reports that Tasmania Police are operating a highly professional service, with success being attributed to police adopting a long-term, cross generational perspective.
Greens Police and Emergency Management spokesperson Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP said strong liaison with community groupings like local government, neighbourhood watch, and many others along with an intelligence lead response to crime and other offence trends.
“Use of advanced technologies and improved resource management will continue to impact in managing crime in Tasmania,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“There has been an overall drop in crime rates in the state, allowing Tasmania to boast as one of the safest places to live in the world, where crime rates have dropped by half during the ten year period of 2000 to 2010.”
“Two areas of crime that are trending in the wrong direction are stolen vehicles and business burglary crime, however the Greens are confidence that Tasmania Police and strong community support will help tackle these community problems.”
“Only ten years ago there was an average of 3000 stolen vehicles per year, however with strategic police activity the annual level of stolen vehicles dropped to its lowest average of 1000, with current 2011 figures showing a yearly figure of 1700 stolen vehicles.”
“It is reassuring to see that out of those figures, 90 per cent of stolen vehicles are returned with over 30 per cent of offenders convicted.”
“I am also concerned about the number of drivers intercepted using mobile phones, and also, the number of people caught smoking with children in cars, given the prevention approach the Greens have been advocating for,” Mr O’Halloran said.
And,
153 INFRINGEMENT NOTICES FOR SMOKING WITH CHILDREN IN CAR
Nearly Half the Fines Cancelled Out as Cautions
Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP
Greens Health spokesperson
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
The Tasmanian Greens today in Budget Estimates hearings asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Management, David O’Byrne, to detail the figures related to new legislation making it illegal for someone to smoke in a vehicle that contained children.
Greens Health spokesperson Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP said 153 infringement notices have been issues for breaches of this law, but alarmingly 43 per cent of those fines issued have been cancelled as cautions.
“During the three year period of April 2008 to March 2011, there were 153 infringement notices issued under the Public Health Act 1997, for smoking in a vehicle with children present,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“The alarming statistic here is nearly half of those fined for this offence have been given cautions, which undermines the importance of this health related legislation.”
“The Greens understand that Tasmania Police focus their resources on road safety infringements, but there needs to be a strategic and targeted campaign between the Department of Police and Emergency Management and then Department of Health to tackle this problem.”
“It is a difficult juggling act for the Police to monitor all aspects of people breaking the law, but it is imperative that we treat other infringement in a lesser capacity, especially when it involves the future health of children,” Mr O’Halloran said.
Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP Greens Police and Emergency Services spokesperson
