The Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management Annual Report for 2017-18 shows there was a reduction in crime offences and strong results in clearing crime last year.
The Hodgman Liberal Government’s additional investment to increase police numbers and keep Tasmanians safe is clearly working.
Total offences reduced by 5 per cent in 2017-18. Contributing to this fall in crime were decreases of 7 per cent in offences against property and 11 per cent in other (miscellaneous) offences.
There was also a 15 per cent decrease in serious crime in 2017-18. The clearance rate for offences reached 51 per cent, which is the highest level in 45 years.
Last year, the department also undertook an unprecedented number of projects, funded by the Hodgman Liberal Government, including:
- The roll-out of body-worn cameras to frontline officers;
- The development of a trial of electronic monitoring devices for high-risk family violence perpetrators; and
- The development of an integrated, operational policing information system, to improve the business and safety of police officers.
Last year, 58 constables completed the trainee course to fill operational frontline positions across the state, increasing the number of new police by 108 in our first term of Government. The Hodgman Liberal Government will continue to build on this success, employing an extra 125 police in the next four years.
We are committed to making Tasmania the safest state in Australia, and we will continue to invest in our first-class police service to achieve this.
Thank you to our hardworking police officers and public servants for the excellent work they do.
