Page 1725 - Week 06 - Thursday, 13 August 1992
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Question No. 195
Courts - Police Witnesses
Mr Cornwell: to ask the Attorney-General - In relation to police attendance, as witnesses, to ACT Courts -
(1) How many hours were taken up with this requirement in (a) 1990 and (b) 1991.
(2) What were the dollar costs of (1).
(3) Has consideration been given to putting police on stand-by of say, one hours notice for court attendance, so they could carry out normal duties rather than waiting around Court precincts to be called to give evidence.
Mr Coolly - the answer to the Ministers question is as follows:
I am advised by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) that in order to provide exact details of the horns and costs incurred by the AFP in attending ACT Courts as witnesses, information would need to be manually extracted from archived records. Whilst I am not prepared to direct the AFP to, carry out such a costly, time consuming and labour intensive exercise, a survey of hours and costs associated with police attendance at Courts was conducted for an eight week period during 1990 and a consolidated record was maintained. The survey revealed that during the period 28 May to 21 July 1990, a total of 2,446 hours were expended by members of the AFP ACT Region at Court. The approximate cost was $71,500.
As a result of an ongoing review of Fostering practices, the AFP ACr Region, where practicable, endeavours to roster police on normal pay to attend Court. However, where a member is required at Court whilst off duty, the member is Fostered on overtime.
(3) No. However, on 1 August 1992 the Voluntary Agreement to Attend Court EVALUATE) was introduced in the ACT for a six month trial. It is aimed at bringing people accused of committing an offence before the Magistrates Court or the Childrens Court in a more expeditious manner. Under the scheme, an accused person will be asked to enter into a VATIC, rather then waiting for the issue of a summons to attend.
The principal advantage of the proposed system is that the alleged offender will be brought before the Court much more quickly -than under the current scheme of issuing a summons. There should also be a saving of police time spent at Court. The Magistrates Court will conduct a calliper for VATIC matters outside the Childrens Court at loam, and the Magistrates Court at 11am. After the callovcr, the alleged offender would appear before the Magistrate to be dealt with on the spot or to obtain an adjournment. Should an adjournment be sought, police will be released by the Court to resume normal duties.
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