Page 2155 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 May 2013
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Crime—Tuggeranong
MR SESELJA: My question is to the Attorney-General. I have been approached by a number of Tuggeranong constituents concerned about the safety of their neighbourhood, particularly following the violent assault on a young male at Erindale shops on 1 April. Attorney, what action is being taken in Tuggeranong to address violence on people and property in that area?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Seselja for the question. Any level of crime is obviously of concern, particularly to those individuals who are the direct victims of it. But I can assure Mr Seselja and other members that, overall, across the ACT most crime types are down and are down significantly. For example, assaults have decreased by 12 per cent in the 12 months to March 2013. There were 2,145 offences when compared to the 12 months to March 2012 with 2,447 offences. That is a decrease over the 12-month period of 302 offences. Equally, public order offences have decreased by 19 per cent to 866 offences in the 12 months to March 2013 compared to 1,066 offences in the 12 months to March 2012. That is 200 fewer public order offences.
This is a result of dedicated work by ACT Policing to target, in particular, recidivist activity amongst people committing these crimes and to bring them appropriately before the courts, It is also a result of Policing working in partnership with the government, particularly in relation to our property crime reduction strategy, which is delivering real results in diverting young people, in particular, away from certain crime types and focusing on the underlying causes of crime.
Clearly, any assault, any crime is of concern, particularly for those who are directly affected by it. If Mr Seselja would be prepared to provide to me, perhaps through my office, the specifics of the incident he is concerned about, I can certainly undertake to have ACT Policing follow the matter up further.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Seselja.
MR SESELJA: Attorney, what action has been taken to investigate the alleged violent assault at the Erindale shops on 1 April?
MR CORBELL: Obviously I am not privy to all the circumstances of every matter reported to ACT Policing, but I am happy to take the question on notice and provide further information, as appropriate, to the member.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Attorney, what police blitzes like those carried out in Civic have been extended to suburban areas such as Erindale?
MR CORBELL: ACT Policing have been undertaking targeted activities right across the city. They do not just do it in Civic. They do it right across the city and they do it based on the intelligence-led approach. So where there are particular hotspots of activity of concern, ACT Policing are targeting that activity.
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