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2004 Annual Report Mission in Partnership with the Community, Create a Safer and More Secure Western Australia by Providing Quality Police Services

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2004 Annual Report Mission in Partnership with the Community, Create a Safer and More Secure Western Australia by Providing Quality Police Services Western Australia Police Service 2004 Annual Report Mission In partnership with the community, create a safer and more secure Western Australia by providing quality police services. Vision To be a policing service of excellence, protecting and serving the people of Western Australia. Contents Commissioner’s Foreword ............................................ 2 Hon Michelle Roberts MLA Senior Management Structure...................................... 4 Minister for Police and Emergency Services Region/Portfolio Structure ............................................ 5 Enabling Legislation...................................................... 6 In accordance with section 62 of the Publications .................................................................. 7 Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985, I hereby submit for your information and Overview of Planning and Reporting ............................ 8 presentation to Parliament, the Annual Report of the Western Australia Police Service for Key Achievements Against the year ending 30 June 2004. Government Goals........................................................ 9 This Annual Report has been prepared in Goal 1 – People and Communities ............................ 12 accordance with the provisions of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985. Goal 2 – The Economy .............................................. 30 Goal 3 – The Environment ........................................ 33 Goal 4 – The Regions ................................................ 34 Goal 5 – Governance ................................................ 37 Key Performance Indicators........................................ 51 Output Based Management Performance Measures .............................................. 73 KARL J O’CALLAGHAN Statistical Appendix .................................................... 77 COMMISSIONER OF POLICE Financial Statements ................................................ 89 31 August 2004 Index ........................................................................ 124 Principal Offices........................................................ 125 Statement of Compliance ..........................................126 1 Commissioner’s Foreword For the coming year, my immediate priority is to implement strategies to stress the importance of Frontline First Community First in providing improved core policing services to the community of Western Australia. As the new Commissioner of Police, I would like to progress made in recent years and take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of we will continue towards building a the previous Commissioner, Mr Barry Matthews corruption-resistant organisation. and his contribution to policing in Western • Our commitment to addressing family and Australia over the past five years. Mr Matthews domestic violence was enhanced during the was appointed Commissioner in August 1999 and year, in line with a whole-of-government continued to progress the reform of the Western approach prompted by the Gordon Inquiry, Australia Police Service (Police Service) which identified a lack of adequate services to commenced under the Delta Program. He will members of remote Aboriginal communities. particularly be remembered for driving a more Child abuse and family violence were two strategic view in policing and introducing the areas highlighted in the final report as needing Strategic Plan in 2001. a stronger focus. Mr Matthews is also acknowledged for his In December, our first group of Child outstanding contribution to police-Indigenous Protection and Family Violence specialists relations in this State, a relationship that continues completed training. Sixteen of these to be nurtured through the implementation of the specialists will be placed in the country Gordon Inquiry reforms. He was a Commissioner (eight in remote locations). In conjunction with committed to fairness and equality for all, this, we are progressing the establishment of championing diversity, openness and fairer human nine police facilities in remote areas. The first, resource practices. at Kintore on the Northern Territory and As a member of the Executive Team for much of Western Australian border, is already his tenure, I found him to be thoughtful, insightful operational and providing an excellent and considerate, with great empathy and model of inter-jurisdictional co-operation. compassion for police officers and their families. We have also enhanced our monitoring of The Royal Commission into Whether There Has perpetrators of family and domestic violence Been Any Corrupt Or Criminal Conduct By with the implementation of the Victim and Western Australian Police Officers (Royal Offender Management System. This system will Commission) presented Mr Matthews with a ensure that we have critical up-to-date number of very difficult challenges to which he intelligence to act upon. responded with his considered and measured • The new Regional Operations Group (ROG) approach. In doing so he steered the Police began operation in January. The group was Service through the most extensive inquiry the created to provide frontline operational support agency has had in its 150-year history. to all metropolitan districts. Primarily, their role The past year has seen the Police Service is to undertake tasking, but also to support implement a number of new and successful traffic operations and respond to outbreaks of initiatives, build on past successes, and finalise a public disorder. number of projects that were commenced in • The DNA Backcapture taskforce completed its previous years: work well inside the expected timeframe. In the • The Royal Commission examined the operation past year 18,052 DNA samples were collected, of the Police Service and the actions of some bringing the total number collected to 39,137 police officers. The Police Service has always since the introduction of the DNA legislation. viewed the Royal Commission as an There were 1,009 DNA database matches opportunity for further improvement. during the year, an increase of 94 per cent The findings will build on the significant over the previous year. DNA database matches 2 for burglary offences have increased by around Furthermore, the Police Service has commenced a 180 per cent. DNA sampling is seen as a vital significant reform program as a result of the Royal tool in solving crime and as a powerful Commission recommendations. Police Service deterrent against criminal activity. management is committed to the implementation of • The number of recorded offences decreased in those reforms, and their successful implementation several categories compared with the previous will make the Police Service a far better place to year. These included: sexual assault, work, and will ultimately enable us to provide better threatening behaviour, non-aggravated robbery, and more professional services to the community. burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft, arson, The following are examples of initiatives property damage and possession of drugs. commenced most recently to progress Frontline Intelligence-led policing, the targeting of First Community First and the reform program. recidivist offenders and the use of improved investigative technology, such as DNA sampling, • The Incident Recording Facility (IRF) has been have contributed to these reductions. established to take on the responsibility of relieving our frontline officers from data entry • Our burglary reduction strategy has achieved duties. good results. Burglary offences decreased by around 15 per cent from 60,777 in 2002-03 to • A project team has been established to 51,724 in 2003-04. The clearance rate has also investigate ways to rapidly increase frontline improved to the highest rate in five years at 16 police numbers. per cent. Both these good results can be • A “Red Tape” Committee has been established attributed to an increase in the arrests of repeat to reduce the impact of bureaucratic offenders in a number of districts throughout requirements on frontline officers. the State. • The Reform Coordination Team has been • The Outlaw Motor Cycle Gang Response Group formed to implement Royal Commission and the Street Gang Taskforce (Operation Atone) recommendations and other initiatives. were merged to form the Gang Response Unit, In the immediate future a number of important to consolidate resources and intelligence projects and initiatives will be commenced. The relating to these groups. The previous groups initial focus will be on the development of a new were both very effective in gathering Strategic Plan which will lead to a corruption- intelligence and solving violent incidents, resistant culture, identification of the appropriate however, the formation of the Gang Response number and mix of police and public service officers Unit better prepares the Police Service to to meet frontline requirements, and enhancement of combat any increase in criminal activity. our supervisory, management and leadership • The endeavour to increase female numbers capabilities. All reform initiatives will be integrated throughout the Police Service and to achieve within Frontline First Community First. greater gender equality in higher ranks was I feel it is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead apparent through the success of the Mentoring the Police Service through another exciting Program pilot phase. This builds on initiatives transitional period. I am confident that all personnel previously implemented. The program was not within the Police Service will support me
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