Tasmanians continue to feel the safest in the nation and hold a high level of confidence in Tasmania Police, according to a national survey on policing.

The Department of Police and Emergency Management Annual Report, tabled in State Parliament today, reports the results of the National Survey of Community Satisfaction with Policing (2009-10) which found more Tasmanians have confidence in their police service than the national average.

“It is a credit to the dedication of Tasmania Police officers that the community rates their performance higher than the national average across most of the reported categories,” said the Commissioner of Police, Darren Hine.

“Those categories include honesty, professionalism, dealing with public order problems, general satisfaction with policing services, confidence in police and treating people fairly and equally,” Mr Hine said.

“The positive survey results follow statistics which show the level of crime in Tasmania has halved over the past decade; from 60,000 offences in 1999-2000 to 30,000 offences last financial year.”

The National Survey of Community Satisfaction with Policing (2009-10) also reports that Tasmanians continue to feel the safest in the nation.

“Whether they are at home alone during the day or at night, or out walking or running during the day or after dark, Tasmanians have the highest perception of safety of any jurisdiction,” Mr Hine said.

“It is worth noting the perception of safety is likely influenced by the continuing downward trend in public place assaults in Tasmania. Last financial year public place assaults fell 10 per cent.”

In 2009-10 there was a decrease in fatal and serious injury crashes – the lowest number for five years. This occurred despite the tragedy of nine people being killed on Tasmanian roads on 9 July 2009 in three separate crashes.

Tasmania Police aimed to improve traffic law compliance through a range of measures including high-visibility policing, implementing new and innovative road safety legislation and policy and the targeting of high risk offences and offenders.
Police enforcement activities resulted in;
– More than five drivers a week detected 45km/h or more over the speed limit;
– 1,298 offenders charged with disqualified driving, with 308 of these charged on more than one occasion;
– 613,945 Random Breath Tests were conducted with 5,120 drivers charged;
– And 90,272 Traffic Infringement Notices and Cautions were issued (30,240 were cautions)

Road safety and police enforcement resources were further enhanced in 2009-10 with Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, mobile data terminals, high-visibility police vehicles, steering wheel clamps and additional drug detection equipment.
 

Tasmania Police Media

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