NT cops clearing case load

The Territory has a higher clearance rate of crime than the national average.

This is despite the O’Sullivan report’s comments about delays to investigations caused by lack of resources.

In 2002-2003, Territory police were able to clear up 13 per cent of reported property crime. The national average was 10 per cent in 2002.

The Territory’s clearance rate for offences against the person was 68 per cent in 2002-2003. The national average in 2002 was 56 per cent.

In all, Territory police spent more than 381,178 hours investigating crime in 2002-2003.

Assistant Commissioner Grahame Kelly said he believed the Territory’s crime solving success was due largely to: COMMUNITY co-operation; FORENSIC capabilities; SPECIALISED operations; and DEDICATED officers.

Mr Kelly said that in many ways the Territory was better equipped to deal with crime than many other states.

He said the strong relationship that existed between police and the community was one of those factors.

“There seems to be a general willingness from the community to get involved and report things,” Mr Kelly said.

“I believe that we’ve always enjoyed in the NT a pretty good relationship with the community which translates to helping us out when we do need help and a willingness to provide information to police as a matter of course to try to keep crime down and help us catch the crooks.”

In the past two years, the Crime Stoppers line has been more aggressively marketed by police as the primary way for the community to feed them information about crime.

The public made 1718 reports to the Crime Stoppers line in 2002-2003.

The Territory also has one of the largest collection (sic) of DNA samples in Australia and some of the most liberal legislation regarding the obtaining of DNA samples by police.

The forensic services facility at police headquarters at Berrimah is one of only three fully accredited integrated forensic units in Australia.

Under the Building Our Police Force program established after the O’Sullivan review, the forensic services area will receive a hefty boost in staff numbers and resources.

Mr Kelly said police recognised they still had work to do.

“Clearly we’d like to improve,” he said.

Newshawk: Stuart Highway
Pubdate: 19th April 2004
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Edith Bevin
Copyright: 2004 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/