Question – Cressy Lockdown
Questions asked by Hon Meg Webb MLC on 15 Aug 2019 and answered by the Leader of the Govt in the Legislative Council on 11 Sept 2019
In relation to the Cressy ‘lockdown’ of Friday, 29 June 2019, the Tasmania Police media release on the lockdown operation stated that 15 police officers were involved in the operation.
QUESTION (1) (a) What is the rank and level of each of these officers?
(b) What were the total hours worked by each of these officers relating to the lockdown for each of the following –
(i) planning the operation;
(ii) during the operation; and
(iii) activities undertaken as a result of the operation?
(c) What was the total cost of the operation in terms of salary and wages?
QUESTION (2) (a) What was the cost of operating the Westpac Rescue Helicopter for the operation?
(b) What was the cost of using the drug detection dog for the operation?
ANSWER (1) and (2) We do not comment on operational matters such as these in such detail and the police do not routinely cost operations to this level unless they are a protected matter such as a major bushfire.
I can say that Tasmania Police regularly undertake operations in response to particular crime trends – this is what the community expects.
During these operations, police stop vehicles for random breath tests, licence and registration checks. People wanted on warrant or undertaking illegal activities drive around conducting their everyday business, believing they are unlikely to be caught.
If any flags are raised during these checks, police ask further questions and may search the vehicle if there is cause to believe the vehicle may be carrying drugs, stolen goods or illegal firearms, for example.
Overwhelmingly, the interactions police have with motorists during these operations are very positive.
The response from the community, and reactions on social media, have been overwhelmingly supportive of police for a proactive approach to crime.
The operations are an important tool in keeping the community safe, by detecting offences such as drink-driving, carrying stolen goods or illegal firearms, people wanted on warrants and other criminal matters who may otherwise go unnoticed.
QUESTION (3) How many vehicles were stopped during the Cressy lockdown?
ANSWER (3) One hundred and fifty vehicles were stopped during the operation you refer to.
QUESTION (4) What specific offences, and how many of each offence, were detected?
ANSWER (4) One liquor offence, one drug offence and one unregistered vehicle.
QUESTION (5) Police spokespeople have indicated this community lockdown practice occurs interstate and overseas. What specific examples from within and outside Australia are there?
ANSWER (5) This information is publicly available. Open source information provides examples of similar operations interstate and overseas. Because they are too big to read out, I will table these links to several relevant articles, if that would be helpful.
QUESTION (6) Police spokespeople have indicated drivers were stopped for breath testing and licence and registration checks and that ‘if the results give cause for concern, we question them further and may take further action’ –
(a) How many drivers raised such a concern and were questioned further?
(b) On what legislative basis was this further questioning undertaken?
ANSWER (6) Police are not able to report on the extent of each conversation with members of the public, but of the 150 people spoken with, three were detected committing an offence. One hundred and fifty breath tests were conducted, and it would be the normal course of business to ask the driver if they had been drinking alcohol, for example.
QUESTION (7) According to the Tasmania Police media release, the Cressy community was locked down for two-and-a-half hours. Is there any maximum time such an operation could run under section 7B of the Road Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Act?
ANSWER (7) The Road Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1970 does not place a time limit on a police officer’s power to require breath tests from numerous drivers.
QUESTION (8) In relation to the Police Powers (Vehicle Interception) Act 2000 and its process for authorising police use of a roadblock –
(a) Could this legislation have been used to authorise the Cressy lockdown?
(b) If yes, why was this legislative authority not used for the Cressy lockdown?
(c) How many times have roadblocks been authorised under the Police Powers (Vehicle Interception) Act 2000 in –
(i) 2016-17;
(ii) 2017-18; and
(iii) 2018-19?
ANSWER (8) My advice is no, that legislation could not have been applied. It is intended for responding to a specific offence or risk to public safety. It cannot be used as a general authority to stop cars. In relation to the numbers of roadblocks deployed each year, I can indicate that police rarely use roadblocks under that act for various reasons. The department advises me that there have not been any roadblock deployments under the act in recent times. To establish the numbers that may have occurred many years ago would require considerable additional research and may not yield any further information.
Mr President, I seek leave to table this document.
