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2006-07 Financial Year Was Another Busy Year for the Tri- Service, in Terms of Both Activities and Further Growth

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2006-07 Financial Year Was Another Busy Year for the Tri- Service, in Terms of Both Activities and Further Growth 1 2007 Annual Report Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services ©Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services, September 2007 Table of contents Purpose of the Report ..................................................................................................................................5 Commissioner’s overview ...........................................................................................................................6 Corporate governance .................................................................................................................................9 Vision and Mission ............................................................................................................................9 10 Governing legislation .................................................................................................................... Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services Fire Police, Territory Northern 2007 Annual Report Agency profile ..................................................................................................................................10 Executive Leadership Group .......................................................................................................11 Reporting performance ............................................................................................................................ 20 Output 1 Community safety and crime prevention .................................................22 Output 2 Response and recovery services ...................................................................30 Output 3 Investigations ......................................................................................................34 Output 4 Services to the judicial process .....................................................................39 Output 5 Road safety services ..........................................................................................43 Output 6 Fire prevention and response management .............................................47 Output 7 Emergency services ............................................................................................55 Our people ......................................................................................................................................................59 Financial statements ...................................................................................................................................87 Statistics ........................................................................................................................................................120 Appendices ..................................................................................................................................................133 Contact details ...........................................................................................................................................135 Purpose of the Report Pursuant to section 28 of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act, this annual report aims to provide a record of achievement against the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services (NTPFES) Budget Paper Number Three. ➤ To inform Parliament, Territorians and other stakeholders of significant activities during the financial year and ➤ to provide information on those factors which affected the performance of the functions of the Tri-Service. Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services Fire Police, Territory Northern 2007 Annual Report 5 Commissioner’s overview The 2006-07 financial year was another busy year for the Tri- Service, in terms of both activities and further growth. 2006-07 marked the final year of the Building our Police Force Program with additional police and equipment, notably the establishment of traffic operations sections in Darwin and Alice Springs, and a drug dog unit in Alice Springs. The NT Police Child Abuse Taskforce was co- located with Family & Community Services at the Berrimah police complex and a dedicated Indigenous Policing Development Division was established at the Tri-Service College. Operationally, the Tri-Service responded to extensive flooding at Oenpelli caused by a deep tropical low, a major crash and derailment of the Ghan passenger train, and a serious cyanide spill on the Stuart Highway. Many Tri-Service staff were also involved in the detailed planning and security response to the APEC Energy Ministers meeting. This annual report highlights the exceptional work of all members of the Tri-Service in serving and protecting the Northern Territory community and I am pleased to present it as the Commissioner of Police and Chief Executive of Fire & Emergency Services. Child Abuse Taskforce NT Police established the Child Abuse Taskforce in late June 2006, following the identification of child sex abuse allegations at a number of locations across the Territory. The taskforce consolidated the approach to the way in which NT Police investigated allegations of child sex abuse and co-located with Family & Community Services. Co- location has resulted in improvements to information sharing between the two agencies and coordinated responses to reports of child abuse. ‘Little Children Are Sacred’ Report In August 2006, the Northern Territory Government appointed Mr. Rex Wild QC and Ms. Patricia Anderson to a Board of Inquiry into the sexual abuse of Aboriginal children. A detailed submission by NT Police was provided to the Inquiry which handed down a report known as ‘Little Children Are Sacred’, containing 97 recommendations on 30 April 2007. NT Police continued to be involved in extensive negotiations with the Department of Chief Minister and other agencies on the implementation of the recommendations. Taskforce Themis Following the release of the ‘Little Children Are Sacred’ report, the Australian Government announced a national emergency and the NT Police responded quickly by establishing a special operation known as Taskforce Themis in late June 2007, to provide the policing response, including the deployment of interstate, Australian Federal and NT police officers. Taskforce Themis will be further reported on in the 2007-08 annual report. Crime Related Issues While property crime increased slightly during the reporting period, the overall pattern has reduced significantly over the past 5-6 years. Personal crime also increased, but reflected a commitment by NT Police to a Violent Crime Reduction Strategy, which was reported on in the previous annual report. Analysis of the data shows that NT Police are taking more reports of domestic violence and this has in turn led to more recording of assaults. NT Police views this trend as a positive outcome and will continue to apply the strategy in an endeavour to break the cycle of violence, especially domestic violence. 6 Investigations In December 2006 two significant murder investigations involved the deployment and tasking of specialist investigation and general policing resources. In Katherine the body of Michael Street was recovered from the Katherine River. After nearly four months of investigations in the NT and interstate two men were arrested and extradited from South Australia. The second investigation began when the traumatised body of Vivianne Gilbert was located in bush land near the Micket Creek Shooting Complex. She had suffered multiple stab injuries and fractures. The investigation led police to two men who have been committed to stand trial. Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services Fire Police, Territory Northern 2007 Annual Report Other major investigations include a NT Police operation targeting Established Criminal Networks operating between Northern Territory and Victoria. The primary target was arrested in the Northern Territory leading to other arrests for Criminal Property Forfeiture Act and Misuse of Drugs Act offences. Coinciding with the criminal investigation an asset forfeiture investigation resulted in the restraint of approx. $250,000.00. Emergency Responses The Tri-Service responded effectively to a range of emergencies during the reporting period. Significant flooding across the Top-End required extensive planning and responses to counter the effect on communities, with the East Arnhem community of Oenpelli suffering severe flooding. A major derailment involving the Ghan passenger train following a level crossing collision with a truck at Ban Ban Springs required an immediate response by police, fire and emergency services staff. A number of passengers sustained injuries and the police investigation led to the prosecution of the truck driver. In February, 40 tonnes of cyanide pellets spilled into a creek bed when a truck overturned on the Stuart Highway 120 km south of Elliott. Tri-Service staff again responded quickly with a major clean-up operation that kept the Stuart Highway closed for some days. A total of 57 fire & rescue officers were deployed to Victoria over a four week period in response to the outbreak of major bushfires across the State. Traffic Policing Funding was provided under the Building Our Police Force program in 2006-07 for the establishment of Northern and Southern Traffic Operations. While all members of the NT Police have a responsibility to traffic policing, the newly established sections have enabled a concentrated focus on road safety education and enforcement. New Facilities A new police facility at Mutitjulu jointly funded by the Australian
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