Page 2765 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 6 June 2012
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Conversely, there is a rise in OH&S statistics. There was discussion at the committee and in previous hearings of the JACS committee about increasing severity of some of the assaults against police. This is where the response of the police and parliaments is so important. The best approach to these statistics is to drill down into them and determine what types of assaults are occurring, how they are occurring, when they are occurring and what events lead up to the assault. When you have this type of evidence and analysis, police are able to put in place operational strategies that reduce the risk faced by police.
A very simple but practical example has been the recent rollout of spit hoods. These are a response to incidents of police being spat on. Clearly, a police officer being spat on has some potentially very serious consequences with regard to the transmission of diseases as well as the emotional stress that is placed on a police officer while they are forced to wait for the results of tests as to whether that transmission has in fact taken place. In response, police have started placing a spit hood on the alleged offenders, which physically prevents the act of spitting from occurring. It is not a perfect solution, but it is certainly a step in the right direction and gives police a real and immediate protection from that potential assault. This is the kind of approach that should be adopted.
I was heartened to see the comments from the Chief Police Officer to the committee that ACT Policing have developed a good statistical compilation of how injuries and assaults are occurring. This will equip them so much better to put in place strategies to reduce the risk. This is where the Greens believe real improvements can be made for police, not in empty promises to lock up offenders for longer and longer after the crime has occurred.
I think it is wise for us to take the advice of police on these matters and for the Assembly to consider what steps we might need to take to complement those changes to operational strategies. I understand from discussions that it can be matters of equipment, training and approach. I think these are matters where we can make real improvements in minimising assaults on police, given the dangerous situations we regularly ask them to walk into.
Having made those remarks, I simply conclude by once again confirming that the Greens will not be supporting this bill today.
MR HANSON (Molonglo) (5.21): I rise today in support of Mr Seselja’s bill. In doing so I would like to acknowledge Mr Seselja’s passion in this area, his interest and the work he has done with my office in driving this. He has taken on this issue as Leader of the Opposition, and that reflects the fact that he views the safety of our police—who are out there on the streets as we speak—as an issue that should be debated with the highest degree of importance in this chamber and that any measures this place can take to provide effective support and protection for our police should be put at the top of the list. I think it is fantastic that he has done that.
This is not a silver bullet; this is not a single issue that is going to resolve the disgusting number of assaults and the nature of assaults that we see on our police. But
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