Road Safety/RBT
Media Conference, City Police Station
ACT Chief Police Officer Audrey Fagan
Monday 29 August 2005
WIN News interview
Janine Manwairing: What sort of role do police play in the road safety plan?
Audrey Fagan: As the Minister said, ACT Policing play a critical role in this action plan. It operationalises our activities and it's an important part of a whole effort with ambulance, emergency services, Urban Services; the message here is to urge all road users, drivers, riders, cyclists, pedestrians to take care on our roads - it's a shared responsibility.
Janine Manwairing: Just in regards to police, what's their role specifically?
Audrey Fagan: The responsibility of police is to work with the rest of the community, emergency services, Department of Urban Services, to make our roads as safe as they can be. It's no satisfaction at all for police to go to a collision, whether it be badly injured or a fatality; this is about a plan that operationalises what we do and how we do it.
Janine Manwairing: Specifically what's in the plan; I mean it obviously gives details as to how police work?
Audrey Fagan: It doesn't go to operational methodology for obvious reasons but it shows targeted operations, it shows how we will actually go about those targeted operations whether it be a random breath test operation or whether it be patrols, traffic investigations etc and you'll see that action plan articulated in the plan.
Janine Manwairing: Now I mean obviously getting to RBTs, apparently you know why have the numbers fallen to the current levels?
Audrey Fagan: Can I just reassure everybody that we do proactive intelligence based approach to random breath testing, to all our traffic operations, indeed to every investigation in the community and numbers are around that 46,000 random breath tests but we've had double, over double the rates of 2001 for success in random breath testing. What that's showing is that we have police in the right place to target random breath testing. So, for example if I read to you the numbers from 01-02, there were 473 people convicted, last year those numbers were 1093; I think that's testimony that we're putting random breath testing in the right place.
Janine Manwairing: Critics say that there must be more drunk drivers behind the wheel if police aren't doing as many tests, is that the case?
Audrey Fagan: Well we have national averages that we can compare to. I think the statistics show if we put those numbers in the right place then we convict; these would be numbers consistent now for three years. and we are doing things right. I'd urge all Canberra drivers to make sure that they don't drink or use drugs and drive; it's a thing that will kill us.
Janine Manwairing: The ACT Opposition says in the June quarterly figures show that there's fewer infringement notices being issued I understand. They said that it's down 50% on four years ago. If poor road behaviour is obviously continuing, are there enough police on the roads?
Audrey Fagan: I think our police numbers and the way we're targeting is testimony to results. You will get fluctuations but there's quarterly reporting, annual reporting; rest assured that we stay focussed on those figures and targets across the board for community safety.
Canberra Times interview
David McLennan: Starting off with the action plan, how important is it for us to have documents like this to outline what we do?
Audrey Fagan: This is a critical document that operationalises much of the work across emergency services, Department of Urban Services and I'd urge the community to have a look at it because it is a shared responsibility and in partnership we can make a difference on the roads. Really it's a message out to drivers, riders, cyclists, pedestrians alike to use the road well and stay safe and you know, our motto is "not paying attention is killing us".
David McLennan: That seems to be the big message and this inattention bit is the key message at the moment isn't it?
Audrey Fagan: The Minister raised that about inattention and we know statistically that will have a grave effect on the ability to stay safe on our roads and we just urge people to pay attention, take your breaks and look out for each other. It gives us no satisfaction whatsoever to be going to a family or attending an accident where there have been critical injuries.
David McLennan: And obviously a large part of that is you do need to actually have the community knowing that too; there's not much police can do to make people be attentive while they're driving is there?
Audrey Fagan: Police can continue to urge all users of the road to pay attention. Our traffic management plan, which supports this action plan, is about addressing those issues and inattention. You'll see through random breath testing, through our traffic campaigns, work with Urban Services, indeed speed cameras: this is a whole effort and we can do much to stop it, but we need the community to be there working with us, with the same motivations to keep the road safe.
David McLennan: And talking of RBTs, the Opposition at the moment is saying that we've had a dramatic reduction in the number of RBTs being conducted and the lack of visibility is hindering the drink drive message.
Audrey Fagan: Our traffic operations is a whole of effort across areas of response and traffic. If I can go to the statistics for a moment, I'm very satisfied with the approach that the traffic area is taking with some 46,898 tests last financial year. We have actually achieved and been able to take before the courts 1093 people out of a result of those RBTs or random breath tests. This compares to three years ago where yes, we were doing more tests, but taking only 473 positives. So through these efforts, which are proactive intelligence led, over the past three years we've more than doubled our efforts in positive testing. What we're doing is putting people, our police in the right place to target those people who are making poor decisions by either choosing to drink and drive are detrimental to themselves and the community.
David McLennan: With that, what sort of impact is there though for the visibility side of it, where people are heading home, they see a cop, they've seen police breath testing the last couple of weeks, so they think you know, I won't have that after work drink or that sort of thing and then drive home.
Audrey Fagan: Can I just assure the Canberra community that it's not just about an RBT; every patrol car is available and out there to target these operations. We are all competent at responding and we are out there looking and making our roads safe. It's a shared responsibility for all of us to keep these roads safe.
David McLennan: And you were saying that there's been a development with the Civic case of Douglas?
Audrey Fagan: In relation to the city assaults, there has been significant progress to date. I'm not in a position to say more than that, but I received a briefing this morning; we are very confident to be able to take some further action in the near future.
David McLennan: So is that we're likely to see some charges being laid?
Audrey Fagan: It's pre-emptive for me to say anything at this stage but there are significant leads that are being followed out as we speak.
David McLennan: With that, is Civic safe at night at the moment?
Audrey Fagan: Civic, as with every district where there is a population of some 330,000, is patrolled well by police. We work with the community to make those places safe. We urge everybody to stay in concert together to make the city as safe as possible. I am satisfied with the policing response; our Beat patrols coupled with our traffic managing strategies and coupled with Territory Investigations Group are working together. It's not just about the visibility of police: remember there are surveillance, investigators, all working behind the scenes working to keep Canberra safe.
David McLennan: And just finally, just very last one, we heard from Commander Connelly last week that there was target on drugs as precursors. What other things are police doing to I guess, get in and try and prevent things from happening?
Audrey Fagan: What we do David is we respond on a number of fronts. For example with the assaults recently reported we wrap a taskforce around that where we proactively work that, at the same time Operation Halite continues to look at recidivists and burglary offences. At the same time our Territory Investigations Group continues to tackle the various trends of crime as does traffic; it's a joint effort and we monitor our statistics and work hard to keep the community safe.
ABC TV News interview
Ken Wilson: Just how many resources will this require to really bring Canberra's motorist behaviour up to speed?
Audrey Fagan: The road safety action plan is a joint effort. It articulates police, Urban Services, emergency services' efforts and it operationalises much of the work that we want to do within our resources. This is about a message that I urge the Canberra community to have a look at. It's a shared responsibility on the roads both with drivers, riders, cyclists, pedestrians alike and I think this articulates a way forward for road traffic safety in our community.
Ken Wilson: The issue of RBTs being raised yet again, as it is almost every quarter now but do you think there are enough resources being put into catching people who drink and drive?
Audrey Fagan: Our resources are focused on catching those who choose to drink and drive, use drugs and drive; it's irresponsible both to themselves and to the Canberra community. The random breath testing, as with any policing operation is targeted, it's intelligence led and if you go to some statistics and if I just quote for a moment, last year we had 46,898 tests of which we had positive results with 1093, that is over double the efforts of three years ago. This is a targeted operation, intelligence led and that's the way we choose to do it. And I'd like to issue a warning about that to those motorists who choose to drink and drive: it's not just about random breath testing; every patrol car is available and they want to take action against those who choose this bad behaviour.
Ken Wilson: The resources required to implement this strategy; just how many vehicles and stuff have you got access to? Do we need more vehicles, more police on the road, or is it a question of people taking responsibility for their own behaviour?
Audrey Fagan: This action plan -- the ACT road safety action plan -- is an important document not only for police but emergency services, Department of Urban Services and indeed the Canberra community and I urge the Canberra community to have a look at the plan, it's freely available. It operationalises our work. We take a targeted approach to our police operations, it's not just about an RBT, it's not just about a patrol vehicle that you may see; every vehicle's there looking to ensure that road safety is a priority for Canberra community. It's a shared responsibility. It's one that's shared by all road users, not just police. We need to make sure that the community, road users, drivers, cyclists and rider and pedestrians are paying attention on our roads.
Ken Wilson: Just turn quickly to the question of the new policing agreement which comes up for renegotiation now. There is obviously some question being raised over how transparent and accountable is our local police force given that you're accountable ultimately to a Federal Minister and not to an ACT Minister. Do you think there are any real genuine concerns there?
Audrey Fagan: I would assure the Canberra community that the Chief Police Officer here in the ACT is fully accountable to the ACT community through the ACT Police Minister. The policing arrangement enables that agreement and puts it in place. So to my mind it's quite clear that the ACT community is my priority, policing it, keeping it safe is my priority.
Ken Wilson: You have trouble though explaining just how many police we have serving the ACT community at any given point in time. Is that a concern? I mean we had obviously a lot of extra money put into the Federal Police service here in Canberra, we only got an extra 60 or so FTE officers come out of all that?
Audrey Fagan: I think we need to look at the totality of the picture here. Canberra police, supported by the Federal Police where we have local, sometimes with organised crime or any crime there's national, international connections, we can reach out to that. The Federal Police have a state of the art forensic service that we enable ourselves to gather from and utilise as appropriate; similarly we have the international network that the AFP has so, you can see from a local crime we've got immediate reach and resource. Probably one of the greatest examples were the Canberra bushfires where we had officers come at quick notice to help here in Canberra from both Sydney and Melbourne and that would be a benefit. However, on top of that the Canberra community is well served by police serving dedicated to our place and our territory to make this a safe place for the community.
Ken Wilson: Which has priority though -- Commonwealth duties or ACT police duties?
Audrey Fagan: Without a doubt in my mind it's the ACT Policing and the ACT work that has absolute priority. If you read our annual report it's clearly articulated, our quarterly report into government and indeed the weekly meetings that I have with the Minister are about serving this community and clearly that's what we're meeting about today.
Ken Wilson: But if the federal minister requested more officers, would you decline that request to serve on Commonwealth duties?
Audrey Fagan: The arrangement is government to government. The policing I'm accountable for is to the ACT Police Minister. We need to be very clear on that. This is an arrangement where I have an articulated power though ACT law. My operational reason for being is quite clear in my mind and should be in the Canberra community's as well.
Ken Wilson: I just wanted to quickly check the status of the internal investigation into the hit and run accident; so what's the status of that inquiry at the moment?
Audrey Fagan: Those matters are ongoing and they will go through the right and appropriate processes. Obviously this is Clea Rose who you're speaking about. With her death, there is a coronial process that needs to take place and that will also be obviously gone through over time.
Ken Wilson: So the internal investigation won't wrap up until after that coronial process?
Audrey Fagan: The internal investigation is separated from me; it is being given priority and it will get priority. All I am doing is explaining to you that there are more processes now with her unfortunate death and we pass on condolences to her family.
Ends//