Queensland Police among the best in country: Spence
Published Thursday, 31 January, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
A national report out today shows the Queensland Police Service continues be one of Australia’s highest performing jurisdictions.
Police Minister Judy Spence said the Report on Government Services 2008 shows police in Queensland performed better than the national average in the key areas of police professionalism, public safety and common neighbourhood concerns.
Ms Spence said complaints against police have again decreased from 38 for every 100,000 people, to 35 per 100,000 people.
“This is a tremendous result considering this figure was 47 for every 100,000 just two years ago,” Ms Spence said.
“Our police were also above the national average in the key categories of ‘police perform their job professionally’, ‘most police are honest’, and ‘police treat people fairly and equally’.
“The 2006/2007 Queensland Police Annual Statistical Review showed overall crime has reduced by 19% over the last 6 years and this years report supports this trend, by showing Queenslanders generally feel safer than their national counterparts, and are less likely to fear crime in their neighbourhood.”
Ms Spence said the 2008 report shows:
• Queenslanders’ sense of safety increased significantly on public transport, with day time results increasing by over 9% and night time result by over 10%
• 52.7% considered illegal drugs a problem in the neighbourhood (National result 57.4%)
• 55.3% concerned with housebreaking (National result 58.9%)
• 38.6% concerned with theft (National result 46.6%)
• 93.6% of Queenslanders feel safe alone at home during the day (National result 93%) and 85.6% feel safe at night (National result 83.7%).
• 36.6% considered physical assault a public concern (National result 38.5%)
• 38.6% concerned with motor vehicle theft (National result 46.6%)
• Queenslanders are less likely to be the victims of property crime, with all categories below the national average (property crime in Queensland decreased by 7% in 2006/2007)
“This independent report shows Queensland is a safe place to live and raise a family,” Ms Spence said.
”However there are still some areas where there is room for improvement.
“I would like to see people’s satisfaction with their contact with police increase next year, as there was nearly a 1% decline in satisfaction with ‘most recent contact with police’, from last year’s result,” Ms Spence said.
“Also, while Queenslanders generally feel safe while jogging and walking, they were almost 1% below the national average in this category, both during the day time and at night.
“While this result is not surprising, considering the high profile attacks on Brisbane’s bikeways last year, it is still an area we would like to see improve.
“Queenslanders jogging at night do feel safer this year than the previous year, with a 12% increase in positive responses.”
Ms Spence said figures relating to the proportion of Queensland police staff in operational roles went up from 79% in 2005-06 to 79.4%.
“Although lower than the national average of 82.7%, the ROGS definition of who qualifies as an operational officer is broader than that used in Queensland, which has resulted in a slightly lower result for Queensland,” Ms Spence said.
”The Bligh Government is committed to providing more police to the front line. This year we have continued our comprehensive civilianisation strategy by providing for 167 civilian positions in the 2007/08 State Budget, to allow more police to return police to operational duties.
“We’re also delivering an extra 200 police positions to ensure our police to population ratio remains at or above the national average.”
Ms Spence said Queensland has also increased its spending on police services per head to $306, an increase of $5 per head of the population.
“We continue to deliver record police budgets, with the 2007/08 Budget injecting $1.437 billion into policing.
“While the funding per head of population is below the national average, the Queensland Police Service has a different reporting methodology to other jurisdictions, and therefore it is difficult to make accurate comparisons with other states and territories.
“The Queensland Government will continue to provide police in this state with the resources they need to keep the community safe and maintain the excellent quality of life we all enjoy.”
Media Contact: 3239 6172
Police Minister Judy Spence said the Report on Government Services 2008 shows police in Queensland performed better than the national average in the key areas of police professionalism, public safety and common neighbourhood concerns.
Ms Spence said complaints against police have again decreased from 38 for every 100,000 people, to 35 per 100,000 people.
“This is a tremendous result considering this figure was 47 for every 100,000 just two years ago,” Ms Spence said.
“Our police were also above the national average in the key categories of ‘police perform their job professionally’, ‘most police are honest’, and ‘police treat people fairly and equally’.
“The 2006/2007 Queensland Police Annual Statistical Review showed overall crime has reduced by 19% over the last 6 years and this years report supports this trend, by showing Queenslanders generally feel safer than their national counterparts, and are less likely to fear crime in their neighbourhood.”
Ms Spence said the 2008 report shows:
• Queenslanders’ sense of safety increased significantly on public transport, with day time results increasing by over 9% and night time result by over 10%
• 52.7% considered illegal drugs a problem in the neighbourhood (National result 57.4%)
• 55.3% concerned with housebreaking (National result 58.9%)
• 38.6% concerned with theft (National result 46.6%)
• 93.6% of Queenslanders feel safe alone at home during the day (National result 93%) and 85.6% feel safe at night (National result 83.7%).
• 36.6% considered physical assault a public concern (National result 38.5%)
• 38.6% concerned with motor vehicle theft (National result 46.6%)
• Queenslanders are less likely to be the victims of property crime, with all categories below the national average (property crime in Queensland decreased by 7% in 2006/2007)
“This independent report shows Queensland is a safe place to live and raise a family,” Ms Spence said.
”However there are still some areas where there is room for improvement.
“I would like to see people’s satisfaction with their contact with police increase next year, as there was nearly a 1% decline in satisfaction with ‘most recent contact with police’, from last year’s result,” Ms Spence said.
“Also, while Queenslanders generally feel safe while jogging and walking, they were almost 1% below the national average in this category, both during the day time and at night.
“While this result is not surprising, considering the high profile attacks on Brisbane’s bikeways last year, it is still an area we would like to see improve.
“Queenslanders jogging at night do feel safer this year than the previous year, with a 12% increase in positive responses.”
Ms Spence said figures relating to the proportion of Queensland police staff in operational roles went up from 79% in 2005-06 to 79.4%.
“Although lower than the national average of 82.7%, the ROGS definition of who qualifies as an operational officer is broader than that used in Queensland, which has resulted in a slightly lower result for Queensland,” Ms Spence said.
”The Bligh Government is committed to providing more police to the front line. This year we have continued our comprehensive civilianisation strategy by providing for 167 civilian positions in the 2007/08 State Budget, to allow more police to return police to operational duties.
“We’re also delivering an extra 200 police positions to ensure our police to population ratio remains at or above the national average.”
Ms Spence said Queensland has also increased its spending on police services per head to $306, an increase of $5 per head of the population.
“We continue to deliver record police budgets, with the 2007/08 Budget injecting $1.437 billion into policing.
“While the funding per head of population is below the national average, the Queensland Police Service has a different reporting methodology to other jurisdictions, and therefore it is difficult to make accurate comparisons with other states and territories.
“The Queensland Government will continue to provide police in this state with the resources they need to keep the community safe and maintain the excellent quality of life we all enjoy.”
Media Contact: 3239 6172