Page 4677 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 27 November 1990
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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
Attorney-General for the ACT
Legislative Assembly Question No. 179
Police Dogs
Mr Wood - asked the Attorney-General:
Is he able to provide details of (a) the policy the AFP adopts in the use of police dogs in matters of crowd control, (b) in what circumstances dogs are used, (c) whether the ACT is charged for costs involved in maintaining dogs in ACT policing, and (d) the rationale and justification behind the use of dogs in policing.
Mr Collaery - the answer to the Members question is as follows:-
Section 12A of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Act 1979 provides statutory recognition for police dogs and their handlers, albeit that it relates to immunity from State and Territory laws in relation to entry etc of police dogs on premises etc. I am advised that there is an AFP ACT Regional Instruction on the employment of general purpose dog teams which is currently being revised. Purposes for which the two general purpose dogs are used include tracking offenders who leave the scene of a crime on foot, searching for missing persons or escapees, searching buildings or enclosed areas for offenders, assistance in the apprehension of armed offenders threatening violence, and article and drug searches. In addition, the Region has one explosive detector dog devoted solely to explosives detection.
The general purpose dogs are rarely used for crowd control. However, I am advised that when the Dog Squad has been requested to attend incidents where police have held considerable concern about the potential for violence to erupt, the dogs have had a settling/quietening effect on those involved and have rapidly diffused volatile situations. The dog handlers are fully trained and equipped to control their dogs under the most difficult circumstances.
(c) As a result of the arrangement made on 25 July 1990 between the Commonwealth and the ACT, the ACT will be charged for police services provided by the AFP to the ACT with effect from 1 July 1990. This will include those costs related to the use of the AFP ACT Region Dog Squad on ACT policing matters. Costs incurred prior to 1 July 1990 and for the use of the Squad on "national" policing matters are the responsibility of the Commonwealth.
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