Annual Report 2001/2002 our mission “To provide a safe, secure and orderly society by serving the community and the law” our values A statement of organisational values assists Victoria Police to achieve its mission and ensures that in managing and performing our functions we: • Are responsive to community needs • Continuously improve the quality of our service • Maximise the potential of our workforce • Build partnerships with our communities • Accept responsibility and accountability for our actions • Act with integrity in all matters • Have respect for all people our objectives • To preserve the peace • To protect life and property • To prevent offences • To detect and apprehend offenders • To help those in need of assistance Victoria Police provides a 24-hour policing service to the Victorian community and is committed to ensuring that Victoria remains a safe and enjoyable place to live, work and visit. This Annual Report aims to provide a record of achievement against the Victoria Police Business Plan 2001/2002 and to inform Parliament and the Victorian community of significant police activities that were undertaken during the year in review. contents Mission, Values and Objectives Profile 2 Chief Commissioner’s Report ‘Year in Review’ 5 Management 6 Management 6 Organisational Structure 9 Summary of Departmental Roles and Structures 10 Key Management Areas 12 Service Orientation 14 Ethics and Integrity 16 Managing our Resources 17 Infrastructure and Information Technology 18 Developing our People 20 Performance Review 24 Crime Prevention 26 Incident, Emergency and Event Management 30 Crime Identification and Investigation 34 Road Safety 40 Supporting the Judicial Process 44 Financial Management Summary 49 Human Resource Management Summary 51 Distinguished Service Awards 54 Appendices 58 Compliance Index 60 Reports under the Commissioner for Public Employment Directions 62 Workforce Statistics 64 Disciplinary Action 70 Consultancies 73 Freedom of Information 74 Statement in relation to the Building Act 76 Reports under the Corrections Act 77 National Competition Policy Compliance 78 Reports under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 78 Budget Portfolio Outcomes 80 Financial Statements (separate booklet) 1 Victoria Police Annual Report 01/02 Key Management Areas profile Victoria Police was formally established on 3 January 1853. William Henry Fancourt Mitchell was appointed as the first Chief Commissioner. At the time Victoria Police had a total strength of 875 men, serving a Victorian population of 168,000. By June 2002 Victoria Police employed more than 12,500 people including Police, Public Servants, Forensic Officers, Reservists and Protective Security Officers to serve a Victorian population of 4.8 million. Victoria Police provides support to the community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, from 328 police stations and other facilities. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Hon André Haermeyer MLA, held portfolio responsibility for Victoria Police during 2001/2002. The Police Regulation Act 1958 is the formal legislative basis under which Victoria Police operates. 2 Victoria Police Annual Report 01/02 Victoria Police Annual Report 01/02 3 Chief Commissioner’s Report “year in review” It gives me great pleasure to report on the tremendous enforcement with the establishment of the Major Drug Investigation achievements of Victoria Police during 2001/2002 and Division and introduced new anti-corruption mechanisms and safeguards to ensure the highest policing standards are maintained. the work we have undertaken to ensure Victoria Police remains a premier policing agency. The pace of change will continue to gain momentum in 2002/2003 as we lay the foundations for embracing new technology, Since my appointment as Chief Commissioner in April 2001, I have knowledge management and forensic sciences to support an focused on identifying the environmental, cultural and operational intelligence-led policing approach. Building and strengthening issues and challenges that confront Victoria Police. I have met with partnerships is critical to this approach. the membership of Victoria Police, the broader community and the Partnership policing is a vital element in ensuring Victorians feel State Government as part of a consultative and open approach to safe, confident and happy in their daily lives. Only by working in shaping the future direction of policing in Victoria. partnership can police and the community successfully prevent This consultation underpins the development of a suite of strategic and combat crime. The latest crime figures demonstrate that this plans that will map out a blueprint for service delivery that links the partnership approach to policing is working. needs and expectations of the community to a process of continual Overall recorded crime, expressed per 100,000 population, organisational improvement. Together we will build a better police decreased by 4 per cent in 2001/2002. This is the biggest force by harnessing the strengths of the organisation, valuing reduction in eight years and confirms Victoria’s reputation as innovation and adopting a best practice approach. Australia’s safest state. Property crime decreased by 5.8 per cent Already we have achieved a great deal. This year has seen the with the most significant reductions recorded in motor vehicle theft deployment of additional police and resources; improved morale; and burglary. This result reflects the effectiveness of a number of innovative strategies to address burglary, motor vehicle theft, innovative policing strategies and the re-direction of resources to violence against women and the road toll; improved recognition of target specific crimes. ethnic and diverse groups and a new project management focus We are embarking on some exciting times ahead. We will continue that empowers all members of Victoria Police to contribute to to listen and work with the community and implement innovative, finding solutions to workplace issues. A new, streamlined long term policies to control and reduce crime to improve the organisational structure has been introduced to firmly position quality of life for all Victorians. Victoria Police at the forefront of modern policing. In closing I would like to acknowledge the hard work, enthusiasm During the year we also recognised the bravery of the Bendigo and commitment shown by everyone in the organisation to police and members of the community during the siege at continually improve the performance of Victoria Police and our Kangaroo Flat in 1999 and finalised compensation settlements for service to the community. the five Bendigo members and four other members seriously injured in recent violent incidents. Victoria Police enjoys some of the strongest levels of public support in Australia and is committed to ensuring that Victorians continue to support, value and trust its police. To uphold this trust we will continue to strive for greater transparency and accountability. Christine Nixon Already we have introduced a new approach to drug law Chief Commissioner Victoria Police Annual Report 01/02 5 management Executive Management Group Structural Changes Formerly referred to as Executive Command, the Executive During 2001/2002 Victoria Police progressively introduced a series Management Group comprises the Chief Commissioner, the of structural changes to enhance the performance of the organisation Deputy Commissioner (Operations), the Deputy Commissioner and the service provided to the community. This realignment was (Specialist Operations) and the Executive Director (Corporate undertaken on a functional basis to facilitate a more inclusive Services). approach to corporate decision making and to effectively position Victoria Police to meet the challenges ahead. The restructuring A new Strategic Development and Implementation Program team commenced on 1 March 2002 and its implementation is progressing. has been established to support the Executive Management Group and oversight change management. This team comprises The new organisational structure recognises that the core function members of the Executive Management Group, Director (Information of Victoria Police is to provide operational policing services to the Management), Director (Business Management) and the Assistant community and that two groups of support services, specialist Director Commercial Projects and Business Planning Division, as operations and corporate services, enhance overall service delivery. well as corporate project sponsors. Under the new structure all core operational policing functions report Corporate Management Group directly to the Deputy Commissioner (Operations), including the The Corporate Management Group was established in December Crime Department and the five police regions. The General Policing 2001 and comprises the Executive Management Group, the eight Department ceased to exist on 30 June 2002. A new Community department heads, the five regional commanders, the Director and Cultural Division, an amalgamation of the former Community Victoria Forensic Science Centre and the Commander Corporate Liaison Division and the Statewide Strategic Support Division, was Management Review Division. established to manage strategic community liaison functions. A new Operations Coordination Division was established to oversee The Corporate Management Group is required to account, to strategic resourcing for operations. the Chief Commissioner, for the use and performance of resources and the establishment of corporate policy, plans